'Permanently disabled': US shares video of strike on Iranian tanker, issues warning - timesofindia.indiatimes.com

**U.S. Navy Releases Video Claiming Iranian Tanker Permanently Disabled Amid Heightened Tensions**

Washington on Thursday posted a short video showing a missile impact on an Iranian-flagged oil tanker operating in the Gulf of Oman, asserting that the strike had “permanently disabled” the vessel. The footage, released through the U.S. Central Command’s official channels, was accompanied by a statement that the attack was a direct response to Tehran’s recent targeting of U.S. Navy warships in the region. The United States said the operation was carried out by a U.S. destroyer using a Tomahawk cruise missile, and that the tanker was no longer capable of navigation or cargo transport.

The incident follows a rapid escalation that began earlier this week when U.S. forces struck three Iranian oil tankers after Iranian forces allegedly fired upon U.S. naval vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media reported that the attacks caused significant damage to the tankers, while the Pentagon confirmed the strikes as “proportionate defensive actions.” In the ensuing hours, both sides exchanged fire near Iranian waters, prompting U.S. officials to issue a stark warning that any further aggression against American warships could result in the sinking of additional Iranian vessels. Conservative commentator Pete Hegseth, appearing on a televised program, echoed the warning, stating that the United States “will not hesitate to sink oil tankers if our Navy is attacked.”

Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the U.S. video as “propaganda” and called the strike an unlawful act of aggression, demanding an immediate halt to what it described as “unjustified attacks on Iranian commercial shipping.” Regional allies, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, have called for restraint and urged diplomatic channels to de‑escalate the situation. The latest episode adds to a series of incidents that have raised concerns about broader conflict, including a recent Reuters‑investigated strike on an Iranian wedding that was likely caused by a U.S. munition. International observers warn that the cumulative effect of these confrontations could destabilize the already volatile Gulf maritime corridor, which transports roughly a fifth of the world’s petroleum.