Iran targets US-UAE oil transfer ships near Strait of Hormuz

Iran has threatened to disrupt an oil transfer operation supported by the United States and operated with the assistance of Arab states, amid rising tensions over the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran claims the operation, which allows Gulf countries to export oil despite restrictions on shipping through the strategic waterway, has become a target.

The US naval blockade and tightening sanctions have increased pressure on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on its own terms. Iran's security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, stated that the US Central Command, with assistance from the United Arab Emirates military, was using smaller vessels to transfer crude oil to larger tankers. Iran has warned that it will retaliate harshly if its energy and civilian infrastructure come under further attack.

Brief written by urgent.news from People Daily Kenya's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.