US strikes 3 Iranian oil tankers after warships targeted, military says

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it hit three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday, including one off the coast of Kharg Island adjoining Iran’s major oil export hub. CENTCOM said the strikes were conducted after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles at a pair of US Navy ships.

“Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost — taking out three of yours,” said Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM’s head. “We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.”

There was no immediate official announcement by Iranian authorities.

Earlier on Saturday, the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that four US missiles struck a tanker around Kharg Island’s anchorage with no reported casualties, and the tanker’s crew was being evacuated.

No ‌American personnel were hurt as the US responded to “multiple unprovoked” Iranian attacks, CENTCOM said. Two Iranian tankers were “permanently disabled” near Kharg Island, while another was destroyed in the Gulf of Oman, CENTCOM said on X, adding that the crew members were told to abandon ship before the strikes.

This screen grab from handout video footage released by the US Central Command on Saturday shows what CENTCOM says are strikes that destroyed three oil tankers linked to Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps after the Iranian military organisation fired on US warships. Photo by US Central Command / AFPVice-President J.D. Vance downplayed concern over the fighting during a Thursday press briefing, telling reporters he “wouldn’t call it a war”.