US Destroys Five Iranian Oil Tankers Amid Escalating Tensions

The United States military has destroyed five Iranian oil tankers in response to attacks on its warships, escalating tensions between the two countries. The U.S. Central Command announced that the tankers were targeted after Iranian Revolutionary Guards launched ballistic missiles at a Navy warship.

The strikes come as part of a dual economic and military approach by President Donald Trump to bring an end to the war. In addition to destroying the tankers, the Trump administration has imposed sanctions on elements of Iran's aviation industry, targeting commercial and private airlines, as well as foreign cargo service providers.

Rising energy prices are posing political problems for Trump and his Republican Party ahead of the November midterm elections. A barrel of international standard Brent crude briefly climbed to $99.46 on Tuesday.