WASHINGTON, September 5 — U.S. forces struck three Iranian crude oil carriers on Friday after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles toward two U.S. Navy warships patrolling regional waters, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Saturday.
A U.S. aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded multiple Iranian strikes, with no American personnel harmed, according to CENTCOM.
Following the strikes, U.S. forces claimed they “permanently disabled” the IRGC-linked crude oil carriers M/T Downy off the coast of Kharg Island and M/T Stark 1 near Jask.
According to CENTCOM, American forces also “completely destroyed” the unladen crude oil carrier M/T Kylo, also known as the “Noxen,” in the Gulf of Oman. The command said the vessel was struck at multiple critical locations to render it inoperable after its crew was directed to abandon ship.
U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth, following the reported strikes, said the United States would destroy Iranian oil tankers if Iran “attacks” U.S. Navy ships.
In a post on X, Hegseth said, “It’s simple: if Iran shoots at U.S. ships, we will destroy (and sink) their oil tankers. All they have to do is not shoot at @USNavy.”
“Iran’s oil tanker fleet is defenseless — Iran has no navy or air force. Our planes, ships & subs can strike them all, in @CENTCOM & @USPACOM,” he added.
CENTCOM claimed that the three Iranian crude oil tankers were part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies, adding that Iran had no means to defend the vessels.
“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,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander.
“We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet,” Cooper added.
Meanwhile, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported that U.S. forces had struck three Iranian oil tankers in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman.
According to IRIB, its reporter on Kharg Island in Bushehr province said an Iranian tanker was targeted by U.S. forces near Kharg Island in the morning, with no casualties reported. It added that the tanker’s cooling system extinguished the fire within the first hour of the strike.
IRIB also reported that two oil tankers were struck in the Jask area of Hormozgan province. One of the tankers was empty, while the other was carrying oil, it said.
The crews of the two tankers were transported to shore in lifeboats, according to IRIB.
Earlier on Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump backed Vice President JD Vance’s characterization of the ongoing confrontation with Iran as not amounting to a war, describing the hostilities as an “intermittent” military conflict and calling it “small potatoes” for Washington.
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, Trump, when asked to clarify Vance’s “not a war” remark after recent U.S. strikes against Iran for the first time in several weeks, said, “A lot of people don’t call it a war. I call it a military conflict because it’s small potatoes for us; it’s not a big thing.”
The U.S. president said he understood Vance’s position and argued that the current situation differed significantly from prolonged U.S. wars in which American casualties were far higher.
“I could see somebody not calling it a war,” Trump said. (ANI)
About The Author
