US blows up three Iranian oil tankers after Tehran targets American warships

Washington conducted airstrikes on three Iranian oil tankers on September 6, in retaliation for Iranian Revolutionary Guards' unsuccessful missile attacks on American naval vessels. Iranian officials claimed they targeted US-linked ships in response to the US actions. The recent fighting is part of a six-month stalemate, with Iran controlling the strategic Strait of Hormuz and the US maintaining a blockade of Iranian ports.

In addition to military action, the US is imposing sanctions on entities with financial ties to Iran to pressure the country into submission. US Central Command confirmed targeting tankers associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), destroying the M/T Downy near Kharg Island, the M/T Stark 1 near Jask, and the M/T Kylo in the Gulf of Oman.

The attacks rendered the ships inoperable. Iran's IRGC vowed to target additional tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and other areas, warning other vessels against using unauthorized routes. Iran's foreign ministry condemned the strikes as "illegal and aggressive." Despite the attacks, fuel prices may be returning to pre-war levels, as the US claims Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz is diminishing.