Washington, Sep 2026 : The United States military has destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and near Iran’s Kharg Island after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly launched two ballistic missile attacks against an American warship, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
According to CENTCOM, the strikes were conducted on Tuesday local time after the US warship successfully evaded two missile attacks carried out over the preceding two days. No American personnel were injured in the attempted attacks.
CENTCOM identified four of the vessels targeted in the Gulf of Oman as M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1 and M/T Riesco. A fifth tanker, M/T Derya, was attacked near Kharg Island, a key Iranian hub for crude oil exports.
The US military said its forces ordered the crews of the vessels to abandon the ships before carrying out the strikes. The attacks rendered the tankers inoperable, while CENTCOM reported no casualties among the crews.
The US command described the vessels as crude oil carriers operated by the IRGC and alleged that they were part of a multibillion-dollar network used to generate funds for the Iranian military organisation and its regional proxy groups.
CENTCOM did not disclose the identity of the American warship allegedly targeted by Iran. It also withheld details about the location of the missile attacks and the number of ballistic missiles fired.
The latest strikes represent the second US operation against Iranian oil tankers in just four days. On September 5, CENTCOM said US forces had destroyed three Iranian crude oil carriers after the IRGC allegedly attempted to target a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer.
The escalation has raised fresh concerns over maritime security in the Gulf of Oman and the wider Persian Gulf region, where any disruption to commercial shipping could have significant consequences for international energy markets.
Kharg Island has historically served as one of Iran’s principal terminals for seaborne crude oil exports. Increased military activity around the island could therefore heighten risks for commercial vessels and energy shipments operating in the region.
A prolonged disruption to maritime traffic could push up tanker insurance premiums and freight costs while also affecting global crude oil prices. Countries heavily dependent on imported energy, including India, could face additional pressure if regional tensions disrupt supplies or increase transportation costs.
The latest confrontation comes amid already heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, with military operations and threats involving Iranian forces and US assets raising concerns about a broader escalation in the strategically important waterways through which a significant share of global energy supplies moves.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
