US hits three Iranian oil tankers after saying its warships were targeted

The United States has targeted three Iranian oil tankers following a ballistic missile attack on two of its warships in the region, according to US Central Command (Centcom). The military claims to have permanently disabled a tanker near Kharg Island, another near the Strait of Hormuz, and completely destroyed a third in the Gulf of Oman.

Centcom reports that its forces successfully evaded multiple attacks from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) aimed at a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer, with no American casualties reported. Iranian state media initially reported one of its tankers had been hit off the coast of Kharg Island, but did not confirm the attacks on US ships.

Centcom's commander, Admiral Brad Cooper, emphasized that the strikes were a response to the IRGC shooting at two of their ships, aiming to impose a significant economic cost on Iran by damaging its oil fleet. Centcom asserts that the three targeted tankers are part of a vast network funding the IRGC and its regional proxies. These strikes follow a series of renewed attacks between the US and Iran, following a period of relative calm.

The US Vice-President has questioned Iranian claims about casualties at a wedding, which Tehran has labeled a war crime. The 60-day ceasefire between the two sides expired recently, and there's little indication of further diplomatic progress. Following the ceasefire, US President Donald Trump vowed to impose stricter economic measures against Iran and any countries aiding it.

The US and Israel initiated broad strikes on Iran in early February, with Iran retaliating by targeting Israel, US bases, and allied states in the Gulf. The ongoing conflict at the Strait of Hormuz has led to global energy price hikes. With the US midterm elections approaching in November, Trump is under pressure regarding the war's impact on American consumers.