US Destroys Five Iranian Oil Tankers Amid Escalating Conflict
A new escalation in the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran has occurred after U.S. forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The strikes, which took place on September 8, were a response to two attempted Iranian missile attacks against a U.S. warship in recent days.
The tankers were targeted in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island, an island in the Persian Gulf that serves as Iran's primary terminal for crude oil exports. CENTCOM said American forces directed the crews to abandon ship before the vessels were struck and rendered inoperable.
Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, derided new sanctions imposed by the US, saying 'After 47 years of sanctions, the US went to war with Iran on behalf of Israel. The fallout has been disastrous for America, including its standing worldwide.'