U.S. Military Destroys Three Iranian Oil Tankers Following Missile Attacks on Navy Vessels

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — American military forces targeted and struck three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday in response to ballistic missile strikes launched by Iran against two U.S. Navy warships.

According to a statement from U.S. Central Command, a guided missile destroyer and an aircraft carrier successfully avoided several attacks carried out by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

CENTCOM confirmed that no American service members were injured during the encounter.

In a retaliatory move, U.S. forces permanently disabled two crude oil carriers: the M/T Stark 1, located near Jask, and the M/T Downy, positioned off the coast of Kharg Island.

A third vessel, the M/T Kylo, was destroyed near the Gulf of Oman.

CENTCOM noted that the Kylo was not transporting oil at the time of the strike and that the crew was ordered to evacuate before the ship was hit in several locations.

“If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost — taking out three of yours,” stated Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of CENTCOM.

Cooper added, “We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.”

Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a strong condemnation of the operation, describing the strikes as illegal and aggressive.

In a statement released via the state-run IRIB, the ministry claimed Washington is conducting an economic war and a naval blockade against the nation.

The ministry further asserted that the U.S. actions violated the United Nations Charter, calling the strikes a war crime and a danger to global commercial shipping and peace.

The strikes occurred near strategic locations, including Kharg Island, a small landmass 15 miles off the Iranian coast in the Persian Gulf that is vital to Iran’s oil sector.

Kharg Island also houses military assets, such as underground mines and air defense systems, making it a frequent point of tension.

While U.S. forces hit military targets on the island in March, they intentionally avoided oil infrastructure at that time.

President Donald Trump previously warned that energy facilities could become targets if Iran persisted in disrupting shipping within the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier Saturday, Iranian media reported that a tanker near Kharg Island had been struck by U.S. missiles and the crew was being evacuated.

The semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported that there were no casualties resulting from the attack.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)