The US and Iran clash at sea again, tankers hit in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz

The confrontation between the United States and Iran has returned to the sea, with reciprocal attacks on vessels marking another escalation of the conflict after a period of relative calm.

According to a statement from the US military, US forces struck three oil tankers linked to Iran. At the same time, Iranian state media reported that several vessels linked to the US, as well as tankers sailing in the Strait of Hormuz, had been targeted.

US Central Command, Centcom, said that two oil tankers, including one located near Kharg Island, had been “permanently disabled,” while a third tanker in the Gulf of Oman had been “completely destroyed.”

US authorities said the vessels belonged to a multibillion-dollar network that finances Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its allied groups in the region.

Meanwhile, according to reports by Iranian state media, the IRGC carried out retaliatory attacks on six vessels. They included three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and three other vessels described as being linked to the US.

Tehran claimed that the three tankers were traveling along an “unauthorized” route through the Strait of Hormuz and called on other vessels not to use the route.

Centcom said Iran had targeted two US warships before the US launched its attack on the tankers.

The US command also announced that it had successfully thwarted several IRGC attacks during the day. It said the targets of these attacks were a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer. US authorities said no American soldiers were injured.

Earlier, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had written on social media that any Iranian attack on US vessels would result in the destruction and sinking of Iranian tankers.

President Donald Trump, who a day earlier had described the conflict as “small potatoes,” has yet to comment publicly on Saturday’s attacks.

Iranian state media IRIB reported that the US strike on a tanker near Kharg Island caused no casualties.

Kharg is particularly important for Iran’s oil exports, as the country’s main oil export terminal is located on the island. A very large share of Iranian crude oil is exported through this terminal.

The crews of the two tankers hit in the Gulf of Oman left the vessels in lifeboats. According to reports from Iran, one of the tankers was empty, while the other was carrying oil.