US, Iran trade retaliatory attacks on ships as conflict flares

The United States and Iran engaged in retaliatory attacks on ships on Saturday, escalating the conflict that erupted a week ago after a period of relative calm. According to the US military, it had "permanently disabled" two Iran-linked oil tankers, with one near Kharg Island and another in the Gulf of Oman being "completely destroyed."

Iran's state media confirmed the strikes, alleging that Tehran had attacked three US-affiliated vessels and three oil tankers traversing the Strait of Hormuz through an "unauthorized" route.

The BBC sought clarification from US Central Command (Centcom) regarding Iran's claims of targeting US ships. The conflict follows President Donald Trump's dismissal of the situation as "small potatoes," with little apparent progress towards resolving the six-month standoff. He has not addressed Saturday's attacks. The news of Iran's retaliation emerged hours after Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth tweeted: "If Iran shoots at US ships, we will destroy (and sink) their oil tankers."

Prior to the US attack on three Iran-linked oil tankers, two US warships were reportedly targeted by Iran. Centcom stated that it "successfully evaded" the multiple attacks from the IRGC earlier in the day, which were aimed at a US aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer. No American personnel were reported injured. Iranian state media outlet Irib reported that there were no casualties during Saturday's US attack on the tanker near Kharg Island, which serves as Iran's principal terminal for exporting oil.

Approximately 90% of the country's crude oil is transported through Kharg Island via pipelines from the mainland.