The US military announced on Saturday that its forces struck three Iranian crude oil carriers in retaliation for ballistic missile attacks by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on two US Navy warships. This action escalates a "shipping war" in and around the Persian Gulf, where Iran aims to control transit through the Strait of Hormuz and the US is increasing its targeting of Iranian shipping. According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), an American aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded "multiple unprovoked Iranian attacks." In response, US forces "permanently disabled" the IRGC crude oil carriers M/T Downy off Kharg Island and M/T Stark 1 near Jask. Additionally, the unladen crude tanker M/T Kylo was "completely destroyed" in the Gulf of Oman after being repeatedly hit to render it inoperable.
CENTCOM stated that these tankers were part of a "multibillion-dollar shadow network" that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies. Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, issued a clear warning to the IRGC: "If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost — taking out three of yours." US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reiterated this stance on X, stating that if Iran targets US ships, their oil tankers would be destroyed or sunk. Hegseth also emphasized that Iran's oil tanker fleet is "defenseless" and vulnerable to strikes in the Middle East or Indo-Pacific regions, as Iran lacks a substantial navy or air force to protect them.
Iran's foreign affairs ministry condemned the US actions as "illegal and aggressive" and an "overt threat to international peace and the security of commercial shipping." The conflict centers around control of the vital Strait of Hormuz, crucial for global oil supplies. Kharg Island, responsible for about 90% of Iran's crude oil exports, has been a frequent target. Shipping data indicates nearly 20 Iranian tankers are currently anchored near Kharg, unable to exit due to a US naval blockade, with over 50 Iranian tankers in total in the Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Crude oil exports from the Middle East were down 39% in August compared to earlier in the year, and Iran's crude oil exports specifically have been significantly curtailed by the blockade, though some oil is sold at a discount to China from floating storage.
