U.S. Attacks Three Iranian Tankers, Raising Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz

[Financial News]  

The U.S. military attacked three Iranian tankers on the 5th (local time). The strikes came after CENTCOM announced that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had launched ballistic missiles at two U.S. Navy vessels.
CENTCOM said it had disabled the Dauni off the coast of Kharg Island and the Stark 1 near Jask. It added that the Kylo, an oil tanker carrying no crude oil in the Gulf of Oman, had also been completely destroyed.
CENTCOM explained that it ordered the crews to abandon the tankers and then struck them several times, rendering them inoperable. It said the tankers had been providing funding to the IRGC and Iranian proxy forces.
Earlier, CENTCOM said the IRGC had launched ballistic missiles at two U.S. Navy vessels patrolling the area. It added that an aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded multiple attacks and that there were no casualties.
In a statement, CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said, "We want to send a clear message to the IRGC," adding, "If you fire at our two ships, we will make you pay a greater economic price. We will take three ships." He continued, "We will not hesitate to protect U.S. forces, and if necessary, we will destroy Iran’s limited and exposed tanker fleet."
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later said on social media platform X, "It’s simple. If Iran fires on U.S. ships, we will destroy and sink their tankers. All they have to do is stop attacking the U.S. Navy."
Iran is the third-largest oil producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Before the war, more than 90% of its crude oil exports passed through Kharg Island. Oil exports have been disrupted since the United States began a maritime blockade of Iran in mid-April.
President Donald Trump threatened in June that the United States could seize Kharg Island. On the 31st of last month, he also posted an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated video showing Kharg Island being blown up on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Before the attack on the Iranian tankers that day, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced sanctions the previous day against two small investment banks in Türkiye and two of their subsidiaries. They were accused of providing a financial lifeline to entities affiliated with the IRGC.
[email protected] Song Kyung-jae Reporter