Archive · 6 Sep 2026
US Strikes Three Iranian Tankers, Threatens Iran’s Oil Fleet
The United States says Iranian missiles targeted an American aircraft carrier and destroyer.
The United States says its ships avoided the missiles and no American service members were hurt.
After that, US forces attacked three Iranian oil tankers.
Two tankers were damaged so badly that they could no longer operate.
A third tanker was empty, and its crew was told to leave before the ship was destroyed.
The US says the ships helped support Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and allied armed groups.
Iran says the United States attacked Iranian ships near Kharg Island.
Iran’s broadcaster later said Iran targeted three American vessels, but this claim was not independently confirmed.
The attacks could make travel and oil shipments in the region more dangerous.
The US military said it struck three Iranian oil tankers after an aircraft carrier and destroyer evaded Iranian missile attacks.
CENTCOM said M/T Downy and M/T Stark 1 were permanently disabled near Kharg Island and Jask.
US forces destroyed the unladen tanker M/T Kylo in the Gulf of Oman after ordering its crew to abandon ship.
Washington said the vessels belonged to a shadow network funding Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and regional armed proxies.
Iran accused the US of attacking Iranian shipping and later claimed strikes against three US vessels, although that account was not independently confirmed.
- Who
- The United States and Iran, including US forces and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
- What
- US forces struck three Iranian oil tankers after the US said Iranian missiles targeted an aircraft carrier and destroyer.
- When
- Saturday, nearly a week after the United States and Iran resumed attacks following a month of relative calm.
- Where
- Near Kharg Island and Jask along Iran’s coast, and in the Gulf of Oman.
- Why
- The US linked the strikes to attacks on its naval forces and alleged that the tankers helped finance Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and regional proxies; Iran disputed the account and called the attacks aggression.
United States’ account
Iran’s account
Cause of the tanker strikes
United States’ account
The US military said an aircraft carrier and destroyer evaded multiple Iranian missile attacks, after which US forces struck three tankers.
Iran’s account
Iran accused Washington of attacking an Iranian tanker near Kharg Island and described the US action as aggression against Iranian shipping.
Role of the tankers
United States’ account
The United States said the tankers were part of a shadow network that helped fund the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and regional armed proxies.
Iran’s account
Iran’s reported account did not accept the US allegation and characterized the incident as an attack on Iranian oil shipping.
Possible retaliation
United States’ account
The US warned that it would, if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet while defending American forces.
Iran’s account
Iran’s state broadcaster said Iran targeted three US vessels in response and warned that attacks would become more severe if Washington continued interfering with Iranian shipping; the claim was not independently confirmed.
- US-reported targets
- M/T Downy, M/T Stark 1, and M/T Kylo.
- Reported outcomes
- M/T Downy and M/T Stark 1 were permanently disabled; M/T Kylo was completely destroyed.
- M/T Kylo
- The tanker was unladen, and its crew was directed to abandon ship before the strike.
- Reported locations
- M/T Downy was struck off Kharg Island, M/T Stark 1 near Jask, and M/T Kylo in the Gulf of Oman.
- US casualties
- The US military said no American personnel were injured.
- US justification
- Washington said the tankers were part of a shadow network supporting Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and regional armed proxies.
- Iranian claims
- Iran accused the US of attacking a tanker near Kharg Island and later reported targeting three US vessels; the latter claim was not independently confirmed.
Sources
US strikes 3 Iranian oil tankers after attacks on Navy warships; Tehran accuses Washington
US Strikes 3 Iranian Oil Tankers, Iran Claims Retaliatory Strikes On American Warships
US strikes three Iranian oil tankers after missile attacks, threatens to sink ‘shadow fleet’
