US-Iran conflict escalates with tanker strikes, missile attacks

The United States has struck five Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island after Iran launched two attacks on a US warship over the past two days, further escalating tensions across the Middle East.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said four tankers linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were targeted in the Gulf of Oman, while a fifth was struck near Kharg Island, home to Iran’s main oil export terminal.

Washington said the vessels were part of a “shadow network” used to generate revenue for the IRGC and its regional allies.

Iran responded by firing 20 missiles at a US military base in Jordan, according to Jordanian authorities. Its air defences intercepted 18 of the missiles, while two landed in unpopulated areas, a Jordanian military spokesman said.

Tehran has threatened further retaliation and warned crews aboard tankers linked to US interests near ports in Kuwait and Bahrain to leave their vessels, saying the ships could be targeted.

The latest escalation follows an earlier Iranian ballistic missile attack on a US warship. CENTCOM said the missiles were evaded and no American personnel were injured.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would respond each time Iran attacks or attempts to attack US naval vessels.

“If Iran keeps attacking or trying to attack US naval vessels, they’re going to lose their tankers,” Rubio told reporters during a visit to Colombia.

The strike near Kharg Island has raised fresh concerns over Iran’s oil exports and the global energy market. The island handles about 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports, with crude transported there by pipeline before being loaded onto tankers.

Brent crude rose 1.5 percent to $99.41 a barrel in early Asian trading, while US crude gained 1.6 percent to $94.55, reflecting growing concerns over disruptions to regional oil supplies.

The conflict has also widened beyond the US-Iran confrontation. Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen launched drone and missile attacks on Saudi energy facilities and civilian infrastructure on Tuesday, injuring 73 people, according to Saudi authorities.

Fires broke out at several oil facilities and infrastructure sites, forcing some operations to be temporarily suspended.

Hours before the US strikes, Iran’s navy claimed it had seized an unmanned US submarine in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM spokesman US Navy Capt Tim Hawkins rejected the claim, saying the underwater US drone had malfunctioned more than a day earlier while supporting ongoing American operations in regional waters.

Hawkins said the drone was an older model and carried no sensitive information or classified sonar or radar equipment.

Tensions between Iran and the United States have persisted for more than six months since US and Israeli strikes against Iran began. A sharp increase in reciprocal attacks over the past week has heightened fears that the conflict could trigger broader regional instability.