US Strikes Three Iranian Oil Tankers as Iran Claims Retaliatory Hits on American Vessels

The US struck three Iranian crude oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman region while Iran responded with attacks on US vessels including a sea drone and ballistic missiles aimed at warships, as the months-long naval blockade and tanker conflict continues.

US Strikes on Iranian Tankers

The US Central Command released video on Saturday showing three Iranian crude oil tankers being hit, with one off Kharg Island, another near Jask and a third in the Gulf of Oman. [1] Two were permanently disabled while a third sank after extensive bombing, according to CENTCOM. [1] The tankers were described as linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. [1] The US military said about 90 commercial vessels have been redirected as part of the blockade, with several more disabled or boarded. [1] CENTCOM stated the strikes formed part of efforts to enforce the naval blockade imposed since mid-July. [1]

Iran's Retaliatory Actions

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps aired video showing explosives-laden projectiles crashing into multiple ships in the Strait of Hormuz. [1] The IRGC said it attacked an American unmanned surface vessel entering the Strait of Hormuz. [5] Iran said Sunday that it struck an unmanned US military boat in the Strait of Hormuz. [3] The IRGC also said it had fired several ballistic missiles towards a US aircraft carrier and another warship that are part of the network of vessels imposing the months-long naval blockade of Iran’s southern ports. [1] Both vessels sustained some damage and fled, according to the IRGC. [1] The IRGC said earlier that it had targeted three oil tankers on the unauthorised route of the Strait of Hormuz and three vessels affiliated with the child-killing America in other areas. [5] Iran claims strike on US ship in Strait of Hormuz as fighting escalates. [4]

US strikes hit three Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman region. — Source: newsmax

US Rejections of Iranian Claims

The US military has denied Iran's claim to have struck an unmanned American military vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a total lie. [2] CENTCOM said the attacks were evaded. [1] The US released video on Saturday said to show strikes on three Iranian tankers linked to the IRGC. [1] US officials described the missile attacks as evaded and denied Iran's claim of striking an unmanned vessel. [2]

Impact on Oil Exports and Blockade

Crude oil exports from the Middle East during August were down 39 percent since the January and February baseline of 18.5 million barrels per day, according to TankerTrackers. [1] The current deficit is now 7.2 million barrels per day, down from 12.4 million barrels per day in May. [1] Iran’s exports of 1.68 million barrels per day baseline number may likely remain at zero for the foreseeable future. [1] Iranian authorities have confirmed that they have been unable to get crude oil past the US warships imposing the blockade. [1] Some of the oil is kept in floating storage outside the blockade, allowing Iran to gradually sell it at a discount to its main oil customer, China. [1] There’s probably only about 30 million barrels of Iranian crude oil left that China hasn’t bought, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News on Sunday. [1] That will run out soon and there will be no problem with China buying because they have no product. [1] The administration of President Donald Trump says more vessels have transited the strategically important waterway over recent weeks under US guidance, despite threats and attacks from Iran, with traffic allegedly nearing pre-war levels on some days. [1] That account is countered by Iranian authorities, which say the strait remains closed. [1]

Iranian projectiles strike US vessels in the Strait of Hormuz during retaliatory attacks. — Source: france24

Official Statements and Warnings

Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran has inflicted significant blows to US bases across the region to the frustration of leaders in Washington. [1] The Americans have surely understood that the era of proportionate responses has come to an end and our recent strikes against aggressor bases was only a start, said Ghalibaf. [1] Any further attacks against Iranian interests will be met with faster, heavier and more painful strikes from Iran, he warned. [1] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the US attacks on Iranian ships illegal and a war crime that runs counter to the United Nations Charter. [1] IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi suggested that the US was taking several times more economic damage from the war and blockade than Iran. [1] If the US wants to deal one dollar in economic damage to Iran, it may deal several dollars’ worth of costs and damages to itself, he said. [1] Aggressor US must know that it has no way but to leave the region and stop its malignance, the IRGC said in a statement on Sunday. [1] The IRGC said it considered the acknowledgement by the US that missiles were launched towards its warships as live evidence of the enemy’s strategic defeat and proof of the force’s offensive capabilities. [1]

Broader Economic Measures

Iran’s Economy Ministry on Sunday established an economic war headquarters to counter the pressure. [1] Washington is counting on those supplies running out in the foreseeable future. [1] Bessent again hailed the one-two punch of the blockade and sanctions as part of what the Trump administration has branded Operation Economic Outcast, aimed at reducing Iran’s trade with neighbours and further isolating 90 million Iranians. [1] Experts have said that while overland and rail routes can move limited refined products, fuel oil and liquefied petroleum gas towards Afghanistan, Iraq, Central Asia and beyond, they cannot offer a viable and scalable replacement for the volume transported by very large crude carriers through the Strait of Hormuz. [1]

What to watch next: Iranian authorities have not said how much longer they expect to be able to sell oil amid the US onslaught, while the US maintains the blockade has redirected vessels and reduced Iranian oil exports.