U.S. Destroys 5 Iranian Oil Tankers After Attempted Strikes on Navy Warship
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 8
U.S. Destroys 5 Iranian Oil Tankers After Attempted Strikes on Navy Warship
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 8
Summary
Five Iranian oil tankers were destroyed Tuesday—four in the Gulf of Oman and one near Kharg Island—after what the U.S. said were attempted Iranian strikes on a Navy warship.
U.S. Central Command said the vessels were used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, while Iranian state media reported attacks off Kharg Island and near the southern port of Jask.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards vowed retaliation, warning tankers near Kuwait and Bahrain to evacuate crews before claiming a heavy missile strike on a U.S. base in Jordan and fire on two Navy destroyers.
The exchange deepens a vessel-for-vessel campaign around the Strait of Hormuz, where Washington is trying to choke Iran’s economy and Tehran keeps targeting shipping to preserve leverage over oil flows.