In a major escalation amid the ongoing US-Iran war, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for a missile attack on an American-owned oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf. According to Iranian state media and IRGC statements, the vessel was struck early Thursday morning and is now on fire, marking a direct retaliatory action following recent US naval operations against Iranian assets.
As of now, the attack on the American-owned oil tanker has not been independently confirmed by US authorities, international maritime agencies, or neutral observers. No official US statement has detailed any damage, casualties, or the tanker’s identity, though Iranian sources insist the strike was successful.
The incident fits into a pattern of maritime confrontations in the region:
- Iranian claims of hitting multiple US- and UK-linked tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf in recent days.
- Broader threats to close the strait, through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil passes.
- Escalating strikes between US/Israeli forces and Iranian targets, including missile exchanges and attacks on bases.
Shipping in the area has reportedly slowed dramatically due to heightened risks, contributing to surges in global oil and gas prices.