US Central Command Strikes NITC and Other Iran-Linked Tankers

US Central Command has struck six tankers from the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) and 10 other Iran-linked vessels during a conflict that began in May 2019. These ships had transported a combined 215 million barrels of crude oil and refined products over the years, representing about 80,000 barrels per day in exports or nearly 6% of total Iranian exports.

The five tankers targeted on Tuesday, including Charminar, Kaviz, Horizon 1, Riesco, and Derya, had previously exported a combined 45 million barrels of oil since May 2019. The vessels were identified by TankerTrackers, a monitoring group that tracks tanker movements.

The conflict has resulted in significant losses for Iran's shipping industry, with the US military targeting vessels involved in exporting Iranian crude and refined products.