US Wrecks Five Iranian Oil Carriers in Escalating Economic Stranglehold
The US military has escalated its campaign against Iran's oil industry by destroying five Iranian crude oil carriers near Kharg Island in the Gulf of Oman.
This move is part of a larger effort to strangle Iran's economy and disrupt its ability to fund its military. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that the strikes were in response to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) targeting of an American warship with ballistic missiles over the past two days.
The warship successfully evaded the Iranian attacks, but CENTCOM forces took action to destroy the five oil carriers. The IRGC's vessels included the M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1, and M/T Riesco in the Gulf of Oman as well as the M/T Derya near Kharg Island.
CENTCOM noted that American forces directed the crews to abandon ship before the vessels were struck and rendered inoperable. The US government has been increasing pressure on Iran's economy through a combination of military action and economic sanctions, led by Operation Economic Outcast launched in August by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.