Archive · 5 Sep 2026
US Strikes Three Iranian Oil Tankers After IRGC Attacks
The United States says Iran’s Revolutionary Guard fired missiles at two American Navy ships.
The American ships avoided being hit.
After that, U.S. forces attacked three Iranian oil tankers.
Two tankers were said to be connected to the Revolutionary Guard.
The third tanker was not carrying oil but was disabled.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency also reported an attack near Kharg Island.
It said nobody was hurt and the crew was being evacuated.
The attacks could make the conflict more dangerous and threaten oil supplies.
U.S. Central Command said American forces struck three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday.
The strikes followed reported IRGC ballistic-missile attacks on two U.S. Navy ships.
Two tankers were described as IRGC-linked, while a third was disabled without cargo.
Iranian media reported an attack near Kharg Island, with no casualties and crew evacuation.
Admiral Brad Cooper warned that further strikes could target Iran’s exposed oil fleet.
- Who
- U.S. forces and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were involved; Admiral Brad Cooper announced the U.S. position.
- What
- U.S. Central Command said it struck three Iranian oil tankers after missile attacks on two U.S. Navy ships.
- When
- Saturday, September 5; the reports also referenced earlier developments on August 31 and the preceding week.
- Where
- The reported strikes occurred near Kharg Island, near Jask, and in the Gulf of Oman.
- Why
- CENTCOM said the strikes were retaliation for attacks on U.S. military vessels and were intended to impose an economic cost on the IRGC.
U.S. Account
Iranian Account
Reason for the strikes
U.S. Account
CENTCOM said the IRGC launched multiple unprovoked attacks, including ballistic missiles at two U.S. Navy ships, and that the tanker strikes were a defensive response and economic retaliation.
Iranian Account
Iran accused the United States of attacking an Iranian tanker near Kharg Island; Iranian authorities had not issued an immediate official announcement in the Reuters report.
Damage and casualties
U.S. Account
The U.S. military said it destroyed two IRGC-linked tankers and disabled a third, and reported no injuries to U.S. personnel.
Iranian Account
Tasnim reported that there were no casualties in the tanker incident and that the crew was being evacuated.
Future escalation
U.S. Account
Admiral Brad Cooper warned that the United States could take further action against Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.
Iranian Account
Iranian authorities had previously vowed a strong response if Kharg Island were attacked, according to the reports.
- Reported U.S. targets
- Three Iranian oil tankers
- Reported Iranian attack
- Ballistic missiles launched at two U.S. Navy ships
- U.S. casualties
- No American personnel were injured, according to CENTCOM
- Named tankers
- M/T Downy and M/T Stark 1 were identified as IRGC-linked; a third tanker reportedly carried no cargo
- Iranian report
- Tasnim said four U.S. missiles hit a tanker near Kharg Island, with no casualties reported
- Strategic location
- Kharg Island historically handled about 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports
- Oil price
- Brent crude closed at $96.28 per barrel on Friday, its highest level since July 24, according to Reuters
