US Strikes Three Iranian Oil Tankers in Escalating Shipping War

U.S. forces struck three Iranian oil tankers in response to missile fire from the IRGC targeting U.S. Navy warships. CENTCOM reported that no American personnel were harmed, but the M/T Downy was permanently disabled off the coast of Kharg Island, the M/T Stark 1 near Jask was also permanently disabled, and the M/T Kylo in the Gulf of Oman was completely destroyed. The Kylo was not carrying oil at the time, according to CENTCOM.

Iran's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the U.S. strikes, calling them 'illegal and aggressive' and accusing Washington of waging a naval blockade and economic war against Iran. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on social media that if Iran shoots at U.S. ships, they will destroy their oil tankers.

Petras Katinas, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, noted that Kharg is the 'backbone' of Iran's oil trade infrastructure and the primary gateway for the country's oil reserves. Ninety percent of Iran's crude oil comes through a terminal on the island, transported through pipes from the mainland.