US Targets Iranian Tankers Amid Escalating Tensions
The United States has taken military action against Iranian tankers in response to missile attacks on a US Navy warship. According to a US official, multiple Iranian tankers were struck near the southern port of Jask and Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf.
The latest tit-for-tat strikes come as Washington and Tehran appear to be heading back towards conflict after more than six months of war. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Navy has warned crews of oil tankers near ports in Kuwait and Bahrain to leave their vessels, citing the risk of US attacks in retaliation for targeting Iranian tankers.
The Trump administration also imposed sanctions on additional elements of Iran's aviation industry, targeting over two dozen commercial and private airlines as well as foreign cargo service providers. The move is part of a dual economic and military approach by President Donald Trump aimed at isolating Tehran from its remaining trading partners.