US military says it destroyed 5 more Iranian oil tankers after missile attacks on Navy warship

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s administration stepped up pressure on Iran Tuesday after the U.S. military destroyed five Iranian oil tankers in response to attacks targeting American warships, signaling that Washington will not allow Tehran to threaten U.S. forces or disrupt a vital global shipping route without consequences.

The strikes came as Iranian forces launched missiles toward U.S. targets in Jordan, according to Iranian state-run media. U.S. Central Command said it had no immediate information about the reported attack on an American airbase.

The latest exchange marked another sharp escalation in the more than six-month-old conflict. But for the Trump administration, the strikes also underscored a broader strategy: combine military deterrence with economic pressure to force Iran to reconsider its campaign against American forces and international shipping.

The administration announced new sanctions Tuesday against more than two dozen Iranian commercial and private airlines, along with foreign cargo-service providers. The measures are intended to further isolate Tehran from international trade and restrict the networks that support its military and economic operations.

The U.S. military said the five tankers destroyed Tuesday were the Kivik, Charminar, Horizon 1 and Riesco in the Gulf of Oman, along with the Derya near Iran’s Kharg Island. American forces warned the crews to abandon ship before carrying out the attacks, according to Central Command.

Iranian state television confirmed that U.S. forces struck tankers near the southern port of Jask and near Kharg Island. It reported that crews were evacuated. Iranian officials also warned vessels near ports in Kuwait and Bahrain to leave immediately, claiming they could become targets for retaliation because those countries host U.S. forces.

The action followed the destruction of three additional Iranian oil tankers Saturday. U.S. officials said Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had attempted to attack an American aircraft carrier and destroyer with ballistic missiles.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration’s policy, saying Iran’s attacks would not go unanswered.

“Iran continues to try to hit U.S. naval ships,” Rubio told reporters during a trip to Colombia. “And for every time they do that or try to do that, they’re going to lose tankers.”

The confrontation is centered on the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil flowed before the war. Iran has threatened to establish an “exclusion zone” and insists that vessels follow a route selected by Tehran. The U.S. military has helped a limited number of ships transit an alternative route near Oman.

The conflict has already affected global energy markets. Brent crude briefly reached $99.46 a barrel Tuesday, creating additional pressure on consumers and raising political stakes for Trump and Republicans ahead of the November midterm elections.

Iran expert Danny Citrinowicz warned that continued exchanges could trigger further retaliation and economic disruption. Yet the administration’s position remains clear: protecting American forces and keeping the waterway open will require sustained pressure on Tehran.

Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

Click here to read the full article