US Destroys Five Iranian Oil Tankers Following Ballistic Missile Attacks on Navy Warship

On September 8, US Central Command forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island. The strikes, which targeted the M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1, M/T Riesco, and M/T Derya, were ordered after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired ballistic missiles at a US Navy warship twice over the preceding 48 hours.[1]

The American warship evaded both incoming missile attempts, and no US personnel were injured during the initial engagements. Before striking the five tankers, US forces directed the Iranian crews to abandon ship, allowing them to evacuate in lifeboats before the vessels were rendered inoperable. Footage released following the operation showed the M/T Riesco on fire and sinking into the Gulf.[3]

CENTCOM identified the destroyed tankers as components of a multibillion-dollar shadow network used to finance the IRGC and its regional operations. The targeting of the M/T Derya near Kharg Island is particularly notable, as the island serves as the principal terminal for the vast majority of Iran's seaborne crude oil exports.[3]

The maritime strikes triggered immediate retaliation from Tehran. The IRGC launched a barrage of ballistic missiles aimed at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, a facility that hosts US air operations. Jordanian air-defense systems intercepted 18 of the 20 incoming missiles, with the remaining two falling in unpopulated areas without causing casualties.

The exchange represents a sharp escalation in the ongoing standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy shipments. Following the destruction of the tankers, Brent crude prices climbed toward $100 a barrel as markets reacted to the heightened risk of supply disruptions.[2]

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington will maintain its pressure campaign, warning that Iran will continue to lose tankers for every attempt it makes against American naval assets. The US administration's strategy relies on economically crippling Tehran's maritime revenue streams while defending its own patrols.[2][3]

Meanwhile, the IRGC has threatened to target commercial oil tankers docked in Kuwait and Bahrain, accusing the Gulf states of facilitating US military operations. Iranian state media reported that the Guards also claimed to have attacked two US vessels and eight oil tankers attempting to pass through what Tehran designated a prohibited zone.

The September 8 strikes follow a similar US operation days earlier, in which American forces destroyed three Iranian crude carriers after the IRGC attempted to attack a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer. The consecutive losses have significantly degraded Iran's exposed oil fleet.[3]

The rapid succession of attacks and counter-attacks effectively suspends recent diplomatic efforts to stabilize the waterway. With both sides demonstrating a willingness to target high-value assets directly, the operational environment for commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf remains severely compromised, awaiting the next move from either Washington or Tehran.[2][3]