US Unleashes 'Tanker for Tanker' Retaliation Against Iranian Oil Fleet
The United States has implemented a new policy to target Iranian oil tankers in response to attacks on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Under the 'tanker for tanker' policy, American forces will destroy three Iranian crude oil tankers for every attack on a U.S. ship.
The first strikes under this policy occurred on Saturday morning when CENTCOM forces disabled three Iranian oil carriers near Iran's Kharg Island and Jask port city in the Gulf of Oman.
No injuries have been reported from the attacks, and multiple news outlets reported that Americans warned the ships via radio ahead of the strikes, giving crew time to evacuate.
This new policy marks a shift from passive defense to explicit economic retaliation in the Middle East as the Trump administration tries to inflict direct financial penalties on Tehran. CENTCOM is now systematically targeting vessels tied to Iran's 'shadow network', which includes front companies, shell corporations, and a 'shadow fleet' of oil tankers used to bypass international sanctions.