US strikes Iranian tankers after more attempted missile attacks on Navy warship

On Tuesday, the U.S. carried out strikes on several Iranian tankers, in retaliation for persistent attempts to launch missiles at a Navy warship, according to a U.S. official. This marks a continuation of escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, as the two nations approach armed conflict after six months of hostilities.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Navy had previously warned oil tanker crews in the vicinity of Kuwait and Bahrain to vacate their vessels, claiming they would be targeted in response to the U.S. attacks on Iranian tankers. Iran further announced plans to establish a new "exclusion zone" near the Strait of Hormuz, aimed at vessels attempting to pass through.

The latest strikes are part of a strategy by President Donald Trump's administration, which combines economic and military actions to isolate Iran from its trading partners. The U.S. also imposed sanctions on additional elements of Iran's aviation sector, targeting over two dozen airlines and foreign cargo service providers. Both countries are vying for control over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil passes.

Rising energy prices have created political challenges for Trump and his Republican Party as the midterm elections approach.