US STRIKES THREE IRANIAN OIL TANKERS AS CONFLICT ESCALATES

International Desk: The United States has struck three Iranian oil tankers after Iranian forces targeted U.S. Navy vessels with ballistic missiles, marking a fresh escalation in the six-month-old Iran-U.S. conflict and raising concerns over the security of vital energy routes.

The U.S. military said Saturday that an American aircraft carrier and a destroyer came under multiple “unprovoked” Iranian attacks while operating in the region. No U.S. personnel were injured, according to the statement. In response, U.S. forces struck three Iranian oil carriers, permanently disabling two and destroying a third vessel that was reportedly empty.

Washington said the tankers were part of an Iranian “shadow network” allegedly involved in transporting oil and generating revenue for Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its regional armed allies.

Iran, meanwhile, claimed it retaliated by targeting three oil tankers and three American vessels. The claims could not be independently verified immediately. An Iranian military spokesperson warned that attacks on U.S. warships would become more severe if Washington continued to interfere with Iranian shipping.

The latest confrontation comes amid renewed fighting after diplomatic efforts to halt the conflict collapsed. The war began on Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and has since combined military strikes with growing economic pressure on Tehran.

A major concern is the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important energy corridors. The waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and carries a significant share of global oil and gas shipments. Any prolonged disruption could push up energy prices, increase shipping and insurance costs and add to inflationary pressure worldwide.

Iran’s Kharg Island is also central to the crisis. The island hosts a major oil export terminal through which much of Iran’s crude is shipped. Iranian state television reported that four U.S. missiles struck a tanker about 6 miles (10 kilometers) from Kharg Island.

The latest strikes signal that commercial shipping and energy infrastructure are increasingly becoming part of the wider confrontation. Analysts warn that continued attacks on oil tankers could broaden the conflict beyond military targets and create significant risks for global energy markets and international maritime trade.

With negotiations stalled and both sides issuing fresh warnings, the prospect of further escalation remains high.

Source: AP