US, Iran engaged in tanker war: Where is the months-long conflict headed? - Al Jazeera

**US‑Iran “Tanker War” Escalates as Both Sides Trade Blasts in the Strait of Hormuz** *By INDGovernment.com Staff*

The confrontation that began in early 2024 over Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has entered a new, more volatile phase. Over the past month, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced a series of strikes against oil tankers and vessels it says are linked to the United States, claiming to have “permanently disabled” several ships. In response, the U.S. Central Command released video footage purporting to show a successful missile strike on an Iranian tanker, accompanied by a formal warning that any further aggression would be met with decisive retaliation. The back‑and‑forth has now spilled beyond commercial vessels, with both sides reporting gunfire exchanges near Iranian territorial waters and the U.S. reporting an attack on one of its naval drones just hours after the American strike on the Iranian tanker.

Iranian officials have framed the actions as defensive, asserting that the strikes are aimed at halting what they describe as a “U.S.-backed” campaign to choke the nation’s oil exports. The IRGC’s statements, relayed through state‑run outlets such as News On AIR, emphasize that the targeted ships were carrying petroleum destined for U.S. allies, and that the attacks were “necessary to protect Iran’s sovereign rights.” Conversely, U.S. officials have portrayed the Iranian missile launches as unlawful provocations that threaten global energy markets and the safety of civilian crews. The Times of India cited a Pentagon spokesperson warning that any continuation of the “tanker war” would compel the United States to expand its rules of engagement, potentially including the use of surface combatants and additional aerial assets.

Analysts caution that the conflict could widen if diplomatic channels remain closed. The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply, and even limited disruptions have already prompted price spikes on international markets. Regional powers, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, have called for restraint, while European navies have increased escort patrols to safeguard merchant traffic. With both Tehran and Washington signaling a willingness to escalate, the next weeks could determine whether the exchange remains a series of tit‑for‑tat strikes or evolves into a broader naval showdown that compels a new round of negotiations or United Nations intervention.