US Strikes Three Iranian Oil Tankers in Retaliation for IRGC Missile Attack

The US Central Command announced on September 5, 2026, that it had struck three Iranian crude oil tankers in retaliation for a ballistic missile attack by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on two US Navy warships.

According to CENTCOM, two of the tankers were disabled near Kharg Island, while the third was destroyed in the Gulf of Oman. Admiral Brad Cooper, head of Central Command, stated that the action was taken to impose an 'even higher economic cost' on the IRGC.

The move is seen as part of a broader effort by the US to strangle Iran's economy, which has been under increasing pressure due to sanctions and diplomatic isolation. President Donald Trump has described the conflict with Iran as 'small potatoes.'