Britain · UK News Post
Satellite view of Kharg Island, located in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Iran. U.S. forces struck three Iranian crude oil carriers Saturday after U.S. Central Command said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles toward two Navy warships in the region.
CENTCOM said it permanently disabled one crude oil carrier off the coast of Kharg Island and one near Jask. Another oil tanker was attacked in the Gulf of Oman. The strikes come after CENTCOM said the Revolutionary Guard launched ballistic missiles toward two U.S.
Navy warships patrolling the region. According to CENTCOM, a U.S. aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded multiple attacks, and no American personnel were harmed. Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said, "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." He added, "We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran's limited and exposed oil fleet." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later wrote on X: "If Iran shoots at U.S. ships, we will destroy (and sink) their oil tankers." Iran is the third-largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and exported 90% of its crude via Kharg Island before the conflict.
Flows have been disrupted by a U.S. blockade of Iranian oil exports, which began in mid-April. The conflict has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil supply. U.S.
President Donald Trump previously threatened to seize Kharg Island during military strikes. Most recently, on August 31, he posted an AI-generated video of Kharg Island being destroyed. The Treasury Department announced sanctions against a Turkish investment bank and its subsidiaries, accused of facilitating funds for Iran's Revolutionary Guard.
The sanctions aim to isolate Tehran through economic measures under "Operation Economic Outcast."
Source: cnbc.com
