BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 5. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) says American forces struck three Iranian crude oil carriers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles toward two US warships operating in regional waters.
CENTCOM said the strikes were carried out on Iranian oil carriers on Saturday, following reports from Iranian media that a tanker had been hit by US missiles near Kharg Island.
CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper said the attacks were intended to send a direct warning to the IRGC and impose additional economic costs on Iran.
“Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost – taking out three of yours,” Cooper said in a statement.
The US military said the Iranian missile launches toward its warships preceded the strikes on the oil carriers.
The development marks a further escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran, with military operations increasingly affecting Iran’s energy infrastructure and maritime activity.
