Iranian tanker hit by US attack near Iran's Kharg Island, Tasnim says - Reuters

**Iranian Tanker Struck Near Kharg Island Amid Heightened Gulf Tensions** Tehran’s state news agency Tasnim reported that an Iranian oil tanker was hit by a United States missile strike in the waters off Kharg Island, a strategic oil‑loading hub in the Persian Gulf. The strike, which occurred late on [date unspecified], targeted a vessel the U.S. military identified as belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to Tasnim, the blast caused damage to the ship’s hull and prompted an immediate evacuation of its crew, though no fatalities were confirmed. The U.S. Central Command has not yet released an official statement, but similar operations in recent weeks have been framed as efforts to curb what Washington describes as “Iranian-sponsored maritime threats.”

The incident unfolded hours after former President Donald Trump, speaking at a rally, warned of a potential U.S. strike on a site he dubbed “Pickaxe Mountain,” while dismissing the broader conflict in the region as “small potatoes.” His remarks coincided with a series of unexplained explosions reported near Kharg Island by multiple outlets, including the *Hindustan Times*, *The Times of Israel*, and *India Today*. Iranian media outlets, such as the *New Indian Express*, echoed these reports, noting that the source of the blasts remained unclear and that authorities were conducting investigations. The convergence of the missile strike and the sudden detonations has amplified concerns about a rapid escalation of hostilities in an already volatile maritime corridor.

Both Tehran and Washington have traded accusations in the wake of the attack. Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the strike as a violation of international law and an act of aggression, calling for a United Nations Security Council meeting to address the “unprovoked use of force.” The United States, while yet to comment directly on this specific incident, has maintained that any action taken against IRGC‑linked vessels is a defensive measure aimed at protecting commercial shipping from missile and drone threats. Regional actors, including the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union, have urged restraint and called for diplomatic channels to defuse the situation, warning that further incidents could disrupt global oil supplies and jeopardize navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.