US strikes Iranian tankers near Kharg Island; Tehran threatens Gulf oil vessels - The Times of India

**U.S. Strikes Iranian Tankers Near Kharg Island; Tehran Vows Retaliation**

Washington announced on Tuesday that U.S. warships and aircraft launched precision strikes against five Iranian oil tankers anchored off Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf. The operation, carried out from a U.S. Navy destroyer and supported by aircraft from the nearby carrier strike group, was described by the Pentagon as a defensive response to “unprovoked aggression” after Iranian forces fired missiles at a U.S. naval vessel operating in the Gulf earlier in the day. No casualties were reported among the tanker crews, and the vessels sustained significant damage, rendering them inoperable.

In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a stark warning, stating that any further U.S. actions would be met with “proportionate and decisive” measures against American interests in the region. Within hours, the IRGC claimed it had struck a U.S. military installation in Jordan, though U.S. officials could not immediately confirm the attack. Tehran also warned commercial oil tankers transiting the Gulf to expect “harsh consequences” if they continue to operate under U.S. protection, raising concerns about the safety of critical energy supply routes.

The escalation prompted a sharp uptick in global oil prices, with Brent crude climbing more than $2 per barrel on news of the strikes and the broader regional tension. Analysts noted that the recent attacks coincided with a new wave of Houthi missile launches targeting vessels in the Red Sea, further complicating the security environment for maritime trade. While diplomatic channels remain open, the rapid succession of attacks underscores the fragility of an already volatile Middle East and the risk of a broader confrontation that could disrupt global energy markets.

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