US and Iran Engage in Naval Conflict, Strike Each Other's Ships

The United States and Iran have engaged in a series of attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf, marking a resumption of fighting after a month-long lull. The U.S. military struck three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday, part of a retaliatory measure against two ballistic missiles launched by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) at two Navy warships.

According to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the IRGC fired two missiles at the Navy ships, which successfully evaded the attacks with no American personnel injured. CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper stated that if Iran shoots at U.S. ships, 'we will impose an even higher economic cost, taking out three of yours.'

The three Iranian oil tankers targeted by the U.S. were part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies, CENTCOM said. The vessels operated outside of the official shipping system, using shadow fleets as a way to move oil under sanction.

Iran's foreign ministry condemned the U.S. strikes, calling them a 'clear violation of Paragraph 4 of Article 2 of the United Nations Charter' and an overt threat to international peace and commercial shipping.