US-Iran Conflict Escalates into Tanker War

The conflict between the US and Iran has escalated into a tanker war, with this week seeing the largest wave of attacks on shipping since hostilities began on February 28.

US forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers on Tuesday after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted an American warship with ballistic missiles. The strikes followed attacks on three Iranian tankers on Saturday, while Washington says it has now hit 10 Iranian tankers over the past week.

Iran responded by claiming attacks on two US vessels and eight tankers, while UK Maritime Trade Operations reported several merchant ships hit by disabling fire in the northern Gulf and Gulf of Oman. The escalation comes as Donald Trump acknowledges the war will not end as quickly as he has previously suggested.