US Destroys Five Iranian Oil Carriers Amid Escalating Regional Tensions
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island. The vessels were targeted after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) twice attempted to attack a U.S. Navy warship with ballistic missiles over the past two days.
According to CENTCOM, the crews of the ships were ordered to abandon them before they were struck and rendered inoperable. The destroyed vessels include M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1, M/T Riesco, and M/T Derya.
The destruction of these oil carriers follows a similar incident on September 5, where three Iranian crude oil carriers were destroyed by CENTCOM forces. The IRGC has used the tankers as part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the group and its regional proxies, according to CENTCOM.
Crude oil prices rose amid the latest development, with USO gaining 0.31% and UCO rising 0.41% in Tuesday's after-hours trading.