The US military says it has disabled or destroyed three Iranian oil tankers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles at two American naval vessels in the Persian Gulf region on September 5.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that it struck three Iranian crude oil tankers on September 5 following multiple ballistic missile attacks by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeting a US aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer. CENTCOM said both American vessels successfully evaded the Iranian attacks and that no US personnel were harmed in the incident.
According to CENTCOM, one tanker near Kharg Island was "permanently disabled," another vessel near the Strait of Hormuz was also "permanently disabled," and a third tanker in the Gulf of Oman was "completely destroyed." Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM's commander, stated that the three Iranian oil tankers were "part of a multi-billion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies." Iranian state media confirmed that one of its tankers had been struck near Kharg Island.
The September 5 confrontation represents the latest escalation in renewed hostilities between Washington and Tehran. A 60-day ceasefire between the countries expired last month, and both sides have carried out strikes over the past week. CENTCOM previously conducted strikes against Iranian military targets on September 1, including IRGC air defence sites, radar systems, and communications facilities. The US also launched strikes on Sunday targeting rocket launchers in the Strait of Hormuz region.
Tensions have further intensified following contested claims of civilian casualties. Iran's Red Crescent Society stated that shrapnel from a US missile struck a wedding ceremony in Sirik on Tuesday, killing at least four people including two children, which Tehran characterised as a "war crime." US Vice-President JD Vance expressed scepticism about the reports but confirmed the US would investigate. The broader conflict has raised global energy prices and drawn diplomatic attention ahead of November's US midterm elections.