Iran Claims Strikes on Two Oil Tankers Navigating Strait of Hormuz Under U.S. Air Escort
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that its naval forces struck and halted two oil tankers attempting to navigate the strategic Strait of Hormuz under U.S. military air escort. According to an IRGC statement, the “non-compliant” commercial vessels were targeted after disregarding Iranian warnings and attempting to transit via what Tehran termed an unauthorized, illegal route. Iranian officials accused U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) of misleading maritime operators, asserting that four other tankers quickly changed direction and retreated to their points of origin following the strike. The Iranian military reiterated that it maintains full navigational control over the critical choke point and cautioned global shipping companies against relying on American security guarantees. The incident marks a severe escalation in regional maritime hostilities, directly challenging U.S. efforts to protect commercial shipping lanes in the Gulf.
