U.S.-Iran Clash Near Strait of Hormuz, Oil Tankers Hit
WASHINGTON DC — The United States and Iran exchanged attacks around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, sharply escalating tensions after the U.S. military struck three Iranian oil tankers following Iranian missile attacks on American Navy vessels.
The U.S. Central Command said American forces targeted three Iranian crude-oil carriers on Saturday after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles toward two U.S. Navy ships. No American personnel were reported injured in the attacks.
The strikes targeted vessels including a tanker near Iran’s Kharg Island, a major hub for the country’s oil exports. The escalation has raised fresh concerns about the security of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
Iran subsequently claimed that its forces struck an unmanned U.S. vessel attempting to enter the Strait of Hormuz. The United States had not immediately confirmed the Iranian claim, according to The Associated Press.
Iranian authorities have also threatened further action against vessels they consider to be using unauthorized routes in the region. The exchange of attacks comes as military tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to intensify following the collapse of an earlier ceasefire.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy chokepoint, and disruption there could have consequences far beyond the Middle East. Shipping traffic through the waterway has already fallen significantly amid the conflict, while oil markets remain highly sensitive to developments in the region.
The latest confrontation also comes as OPEC+ prepares to meet Sunday. The group is expected to maintain its current oil-production policy amid continuing disruption to energy exports through the Strait of Hormuz.
The situation remains fluid, with both sides issuing competing claims about attacks on vessels. Independent confirmation of some Iranian military claims was not immediately available.