The military confrontation between the United States and Iran has intensified, with five Iranian crude oil tankers reportedly destroyed by US forces and Iran claiming a missile strike on a US military base in Jordan.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces targeted five Iranian oil carriers after Iran allegedly attempted to attack a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles. According to CENTCOM, the warship successfully evaded missile attacks launched on two occasions over the past two days and continued its patrols in regional waters. No American casualties were reported.
The five tankers identified by CENTCOM were M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1, M/T Riesco and M/T Derya. Four of the vessels were reportedly located in the Gulf of Oman, while the Derya was struck near Iran's Kharg Island. US forces said the crews were ordered to abandon the vessels before the ships were struck and rendered inoperable.
The latest attacks come just days after the US said it had destroyed three other Iranian crude oil carriers on September 5. Washington accused Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of using the tankers as part of a large-scale “shadow network” to generate funds for the organisation and its regional allies.
Iran, meanwhile, claimed that its Revolutionary Guards carried out a missile attack on the US Al-Azraq air base in Jordan. Iranian state media reported that the attack damaged facilities used for aircraft maintenance, deployment and shelters. Jordan's military said it intercepted 18 Iranian missiles launched towards the country.
Iran has also issued warnings to oil tanker crews near ports in Kuwait and Bahrain, urging them to leave their vessels. Tehran accused both Gulf countries of supporting the US military presence and assisting Washington in its operations against Iran.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Washington would continue retaliatory action against Iranian oil tankers if Tehran attempts to strike US naval forces.
The escalation comes as the US-Iran conflict enters its seventh month. Iran continues to exert pressure around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important routes for oil and gas shipments, while the US is seeking to restrict Iran's oil exports, ports and broader economy.
With both sides continuing military operations and issuing threats, concerns are growing over the possibility of further escalation across the Gulf region.
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