Iranian Oil Tanker Hit by Missiles as Tensions with US Escalate
An Iranian oil tanker was reportedly struck by missiles off Kharg Island on Saturday, according to Iranian media.
The incident occurred as tensions between Iran and the US escalated. The blasts were reported near Kharg Island, which is Iran's main oil hub in the Gulf.
Kharg Island is strategically important to Iran because around 90% of the country's oil exports are processed there. It is also home to nearly 20,000 people, most of whom are oil workers.
The US has previously threatened to seize or blow up Kharg Island, but no major attack has been launched so far.
Hostilities between the US and Iran intensified in recent days, with both sides exchanging heavy barrages. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) launched strikes on multiple targets across Iran on September 1, in response to what it said were attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The incident comes after a wedding celebration was struck by a missile on Tuesday night, killing five people and injuring at least 60 others. The US Vice President JD Vance said that the Iranian state media had not been accurate about what had happened in the conflict.