Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claim attacks on US-linked vessels after Washington struck three Iranian oil tankers, raising fears of a wider confrontation around the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran Threatens Tougher Retaliation

Iran has threatened a stronger military response against US naval forces after Washington struck three Iranian oil tankers in the latest escalation between the two countries.

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central command warned that continued US attacks on Iranian ships and the American naval blockade of Iranian ports could trigger more severe strikes against US military vessels across the region.

The warning came after the United States said its forces had disabled or destroyed three Iranian crude-oil carriers following ballistic-missile attacks by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on two US Navy warships.

The latest exchange has intensified an already volatile confrontation around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy-shipping routes.

Revolutionary Guards Claim Attacks

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said its naval forces subsequently targeted three tankers travelling through what it described as an unauthorised route in the Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC also claimed that three vessels linked to the United States were attacked in other areas.

Iran warned other ships against using routes that Tehran considers unauthorised as tensions continue to rise around the strategic waterway.

The claims have not all been independently verified. US officials, however, confirmed that Iranian forces had launched ballistic missiles towards two American warships before the US retaliatory strikes. CENTCOM said the US aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer evaded the attacks and that no American personnel were injured.

US Destroyed Three Tankers

US Central Command said American forces struck three Iranian crude-oil carriers on September 5 after the IRGC launched missiles at US Navy vessels.

CENTCOM identified the ships as the M/T Downy, struck off Kharg Island; the M/T Stark 1, targeted near Jask; and the unladen M/T Kylo, also known as the Noxen, which was destroyed in the Gulf of Oman.

According to CENTCOM, the first two tankers were permanently disabled, while the third was rendered inoperable after its crew was ordered to abandon the vessel.

Washington said the vessels were part of a multibillion-dollar network allegedly used to finance the IRGC and its regional proxies.

CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said the US response was intended to impose a greater economic cost on Iran if American vessels came under attack again.

Iran Claims US Ship Damage

The IRGC has also claimed that its ballistic missiles struck a US aircraft carrier and a destroyer.

Iranian officials said the warships were damaged and subsequently left the area of engagement. The US military has acknowledged that the two vessels were targeted but said they successfully evaded the Iranian attacks and reported no American casualties.

The conflicting claims underline the difficulty of independently assessing battlefield developments as both sides seek to demonstrate military strength.

For Tehran, portraying successful attacks against US naval assets could reinforce its deterrence message. Washington, meanwhile, has emphasised that its ships remain operational and that its response can impose significant costs on Iran.

Strait Of Hormuz In Focus

The confrontation has placed the Strait of Hormuz at the centre of the latest US-Iran escalation.

Iran has retained significant control over maritime movement through the strategic waterway, while the United States is enforcing a counter-blockade aimed at restricting Iranian oil exports.

Any prolonged disruption to shipping could have consequences far beyond the immediate conflict. The Strait is a critical route for global oil and gas supplies, making the safety of commercial vessels a major concern for energy-importing countries.

Oil prices have already reacted to fears that the confrontation could further disrupt regional supplies. Reuters reported Brent crude rising to around $96 a barrel amid concerns over shipping and supply disruptions.

Six-Month Conflict Deepens

The latest clashes come after months of fighting between Washington and Tehran.

The conflict intensified after US and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier in the year, followed by Iranian attacks against American and other regional targets. The confrontation has since expanded into a wider struggle involving ports, shipping routes, oil infrastructure and military positions.

US forces have increasingly targeted Iranian military and economic assets, while Iran has sought to use its geographic position around the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz to increase pressure on Washington.

The latest tanker strikes represent another step in that escalation, moving the confrontation directly into the maritime and energy sectors.

Wider Regional Risks Grow

The immediate concern is that the latest exchange could trigger another cycle of retaliation.

Iran has explicitly warned that future US attacks on Iranian ships or continued restrictions on its maritime movement will produce a more severe response. Washington, for its part, has signalled that attacks on its warships will not go unanswered.

That raises the possibility of further attacks on tankers, naval vessels and other commercial shipping in and around the Gulf.

For global markets, the biggest risk is a sustained disruption of oil transportation through Hormuz. For the region, the danger is that a confrontation initially centred on US and Iranian forces could draw in other countries and armed groups.

For now, both sides are signalling resolve rather than compromise. With Iran threatening harsher reprisals and the US warning of further economic and military retaliation, the next exchange could determine whether the latest crisis remains limited to maritime targets or develops into a much broader regional confrontation.