US strikes Iranian oil carrier off Kharg Island

The United States struck three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed, which it said were involved in covert oil shipment near the critical Kharg Island terminal.

Early on Saturday, Iranian state-linked media reported that one of the country’s oil tankers had been struck by U.S. forces, in apparent response to Iran firing missiles against American vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM has now confirmed these details, and said that its strikes were prompted by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launching “ballistic missiles toward two U.S. Navy warships patrolling regional waters.”

CENTCOM said that the U.S. vessels evaded the “unprovoked” attacks and that no American personnel were injured as a result.

“The three Iranian crude oil tankers are part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies. Iran has no means by which to defend them,” according to the CENTCOM release.

“Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost —taking out three of yours,” Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said. “We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.”

CENTCOM directed Newsweek back to its original announcement, first posted on X.

This is a developing story. More to come.