US Strikes Iranian Oil Tankers Amid Escalating Maritime Tensions

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on September 5 that it had struck three Iranian oil tankers in response to ballistic missiles fired at two of its warships. The incident occurred while the Navy vessels, an aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer, were patrolling regional waters.

No Americans were injured in the missile fire, but CENTCOM emphasized that the US will not hesitate to defend its forces if necessary. Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, warned Iran's paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that if it shoots at US ships, it will face an even higher economic cost.

The three tankers targeted by the US were part of a network allegedly funneling billions of dollars to the IRGC and its proxies. CENTCOM claimed that Iran has no capability to defend its tanker fleet, implying that the US strikes were designed to cripple its oil export capabilities.