US disables three Iranian tankers after missile attacks

On Saturday, the United States engaged in a military confrontation with Iran after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired ballistic missiles at two US Navy warships in the Strait of Hormuz. Central Command reported that no US personnel were injured during the incident, with an American aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully evading multiple Iranian attacks.

In retaliation, the US disabled three Iranian crude oil tankers and destroyed a fourth vessel, citing the ships as part of a multibillion-dollar network generating revenue for the IRGC and allied armed groups.

The disabled tankers, identified as the M/T Downy, M/T Stark 1, and M/T Kylo, were all part of Iran's system for maintaining oil exports despite sanctions and naval pressure. The M/T Kylo, also known as Noxen, was destroyed in the Gulf of Oman. Iran disputed the US claims of responsibility, stating that its forces subsequently targeted three oil tankers and three American vessels, a claim that could not be independently verified.

Iranian officials warned of more severe attacks on US warships if Washington continued interfering with Iranian shipping, while the country's foreign ministry condemned the tanker strikes as a war crime. The exchange marks a significant escalation, as the strikes moved beyond military installations to assets directly linked to Iran's oil trade.

The Strait of Hormuz, already constrained by US sanctions and naval pressure, becomes a critical energy corridor with heightened risks of conflict. Diplomatic efforts to contain the conflict remain stalled, with disagreements over Iran's nuclear program and ongoing US pressure presenting challenges to a durable resolution.