The United States has struck three Iranian oil tankers, escalating its confrontation with Tehran and increasing risks for commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The US said the tankers belonged to an Iranian shadow fleet supporting the IRGC and its regional allies.
The vessels were the Suezmax-sized MV Kylo, also known as MV Noxen, the Suezmax MV Stark I and the VLCC MV Downy. MV Kylo was struck after its crew was ordered to abandon ship and later sank. Two others tankers were disabled.
US Central Command said the strikes followed ballistic missile attacks by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on two US Navy warships. CENTCOM commander warned that Washington would continue targeting Iran’s oil fleet if American forces came under attack.
Iran has threatened a stronger response. The IRGC Navy later claimed it had targeted three tankers using what it called an unauthorized route through the Strait of Hormuz. It also claimed attacks on US-linked vessels. These reports have not been independently confirmed.
The confrontation is already affecting vessel movements. Kpler data showed that an average 10 commodity ships transited the Strait of Hormuz per day over the past 10 days, the lowest since May. Only two vessels passed through the strait on Saturday while six went through on Sunday.
Iran has warned vessels against using routes through the strait that it does not authorize. The latest exchange has therefore brought commercial shipping deeper into the confrontation between the two countries.
