U.S. military strikes oil tankers as Iran vows tougher reprisals - The Hindu

**U.S. Military Strikes Iranian Oil Tankers Amid Escalating Tensions**

Washington announced on Thursday that U.S. naval forces carried out precision strikes against three Iranian-flagged oil tankers operating near the Persian Gulf’s Kharg Island, describing the action as a direct response to recent missile attacks on U.S. warships in the region. The Department of Defense said the tankers – identified as the *Al-Mahdi*, *Khalij-e Fars* and *Shahid Beheshti* – were deemed legitimate military targets because they were being used to transport fuel for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) maritime operations. According to U.S. officials, the strikes were executed by surface‑to‑surface missiles launched from the USS *Carney* (DDG‑64) and were intended to deter further aggression without escalating to a broader conflict.

Iran’s IRGC immediately condemned the attacks, claiming they violated international law and constituted an act of aggression. In a televised briefing, the IRGC announced that its forces had launched a series of missile and drone assaults on U.S. vessels enforcing a naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz, describing the U.S. presence as “illegal” and “impermissible.” Tehran’s Foreign Ministry echoed the IRGC’s stance, vowing “tougher reprisals” against any future U.S. actions and warning that the strikes could disrupt the already fragile flow of oil through one of the world’s most critical chokepoints.

The exchange has heightened concerns among regional allies and global markets, with analysts warning that a sustained tit‑for‑tat could jeopardize the free passage of commercial shipping and further inflame the broader U.S.–Iran rivalry. While the United States maintains that its operations are defensive and aimed at protecting maritime security, Iran’s rhetoric signals an escalation that could draw in other Gulf Cooperation Council states. Diplomats in Washington and Tehran are reportedly seeking back‑channel communications to prevent an unintended slide into open warfare, even as both sides continue to marshal naval assets in the waterway.