Tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated sharply into full-blown maritime warfare as US Central Command (CENTCOM) launched targeted strikes destroying five Iranian oil tankers, including one near Iran’s strategic Kharg Island export hub. Explosions reverberated across Kharg Island and the southern port of Jask as US forces struck the vessels—identified as the M/T Derya, Kaviz, Charminar, Horizon 1, and Riesco—after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired ballistic missiles at a US Navy warship patrolling the region.
US Iran War Kharg Island Strikes – IRGC Launches Counter-Strikes on Gulf Shipping and Claims US Submarine Capture
In immediate retaliation, the IRGC Navy claimed responsibility for targeting 10 commercial and military vessels across the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, including two US naval ships and eight oil tankers attempting to navigate declared restricted zones. Simultaneously, Iranian state media announced that IRGC intelligence forces successfully captured an advanced, uncrewed US military submersible at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz, displaying the state-of-the-art underwater vessel as a major war trophy.
US Iran War Kharg Island Strikes – Diplomatic Threats and Exclusion Zones Push Crude Beyond $100
The dramatic surge in military confrontations pushed Brent crude oil prices past $100 per barrel for the first time since July, creating widespread global energy market instability. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that resistance would continue until aggressors expressed full regret, while the IRGC issued warnings directing commercial crews in Kuwaiti and Bahraini waters hosting US assets to abandon their ships. The White House firmly rejected Iranian demands for a maritime exclusion zone, maintaining that the Strait of Hormuz remains open under US protection.
US Iran War Kharg Island Strikes – Washington Imposes Blanket Airline Sanctions as Global Alarm Grows
Tightening economic pressure alongside kinetic operations, the US Department of the Treasury designated 27 Iranian commercial airlines on its sanctions list, accusing the aviation sector of facilitating weapons transfers for the IRGC. Meanwhile, global powers—including India—condemned the widening regional destabilization and escalating attacks on maritime infrastructure, urging both nations to halt military strikes before total disruption to energy supply routes occurs.
