Five Iranian Tankers Sunk as U.S. Escalates Gulf Strikes—Oil Tops $100
U.S. Central Command confirms five crude carriers destroyed after second Iranian missile attack on Navy warship.
The U.S. military has destroyed five Iranian-linked oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, sinking one vessel and severely damaging four others, following a second missile attack by Iran on a U.S. Navy warship in two days. The strikes, confirmed by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), targeted the tankers Derya, Horizon 1, Kaviz, Charminar, and Riesco on Tuesday.
CENTCOM released imagery showing Riesco listing heavily before sinking, while the other vessels sustained damage to their sterns. Satellite tracking data revealed that Derya’s crew did not deploy lifeboats before the attack, prompting Kharg Island port authorities to send tugboats for rescue operations. CENTCOM typically provides a three-hour warning before such strikes.
Escalation After Repeated Iranian Missile Attacks: strait of hormuz
The latest U.S. response follows a pattern of retaliatory strikes after Iran’s repeated missile attacks on American naval assets. Over the weekend, Iran launched ballistic missiles at a U.S. aircraft carrier and destroyer, missing both targets. On Monday, Iran tested a new anti-ship missile against an unspecified U.S. warship, which again failed to hit its mark. Major General Mohsen Rezaei, a senior Iranian security official, described the test as a demonstration of Iran’s military capabilities.
However, U.S. officials expressed growing concern over the improving accuracy of Iran’s missile technology. Reports suggest that foreign assistance—potentially from Russia or China—may be enhancing Iran’s targeting systems. In May, the U.S. sanctioned three Chinese companies for providing militarily useful satellite imaging to Iran, while suspicions persist about Russian involvement in supplying advanced surveillance technology.
Iran Issues Warning to Gulf Shipping
In response to the U.S. strikes, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a warning to mariners operating near Kuwait and Bahrain. The IRGC declared that crewmembers of vessels linked to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states must abandon their ships immediately, whether anchored or docked, as they would become targets. The threat coincided with a separate Iranian missile barrage targeting U.S. bases in Jordan, though the extent of damage remains unclear.
CENTCOM has not commented on the effectiveness of Jordan’s air defenses, but bystander footage showed multiple interception attempts, suggesting a heavy expenditure of interceptors. With tensions rising, both sides appear locked in a cycle of retaliation, increasing the risk of further escalation in the region’s critical waterways.
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