US and Iran Exchange Fire on Oil Vessels Amid Escalating Tensions

Naval forces from the United States and Iran exchanged fire in the waters near Iran on Saturday, intensifying a conflict that has disrupted global energy supplies. U.S. Central Command reported striking three Iranian oil carriers, including one near the critical oil export hub of Kharg Island.

This action was a direct response to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launching ballistic missiles at two U.S. Navy ships earlier. Admiral Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, stated, “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.”

The IRGC, in turn, threatened further strikes against U.S. military vessels and claimed to have targeted three tankers and three U.S.-linked vessels operating on unauthorized routes in the Strait of Hormuz. The semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that four U.S. missiles hit a tanker near Kharg Island, with local sources indicating no casualties among the crew.

No American personnel were reported harmed during the exchanges. This latest confrontation follows a week of heightened tensions, with potential implications for global oil prices. Brent crude futures saw an increase, closing at their highest level since late July due to concerns over Middle East supply disruptions.

Past threats from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Kharg Island, a major Iranian oil export terminal, have drawn strong warnings from Tehran. The U.S. has maintained a naval blockade on Iranian oil exports since mid-April, following Iran’s disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil transit route.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)