The United States has destroyed five Iranian oil tankers after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard attempted to strike a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles, triggering a fresh escalation in the conflict and sending oil prices above $100 a barrel.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said four of the tankers were struck in the Gulf of Oman, while a fifth was targeted near Iran’s Kharg Island, a major oil export hub. The US said the vessels were linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The strikes came after the IRGC twice attempted to hit a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles over two days. According to CENTCOM, the warship evaded both attacks and no American personnel were injured.
The other vessels identified by CENTCOM were the M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1 and M/T Derya. The US military said the tankers formed part of what it described as a multibillion-dollar shadow network financing the IRGC and its regional allies.
Iran responded to the tanker strikes by launching ballistic missiles towards a US military facility in Jordan, according to Iranian state media.
Jordan’s military said its air defences intercepted 18 of 20 ballistic missiles fired towards its territory, while two landed in unpopulated areas. No casualties were reported.
Iran’s IRGC also warned tanker crews at ports in Kuwait and Bahrain to leave their vessels, threatening further attacks on shipping in the region.
The latest exchange comes amid a wider struggle for control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies. The conflict has already disrupted tanker traffic through the waterway, increasing concerns over the availability and price of crude oil.
Brent crude, the global benchmark, briefly climbed above $100 a barrel on Wednesday, reaching triple-digit territory for the first time since July as traders reacted to the renewed attacks and growing risks to oil supplies.