According to CNN
The U.S. military announced on Saturday that its forces struck and destroyed three Iranian crude-oil tankers — M/T Dawni, M/T Stark 1, and M/T Kailo — in response to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launching ballistic missiles toward two U.S. warships, which survived the attack.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper confirmed that any Iranian targeting of U.S. vessels would be met with a harsh response, including the destruction of Iranian oil tankers. They described Iran’s tanker fleet as poorly defended and a source of funding for its shadow networks.
In response, Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks as
“illegal”
and a violation of the UN Charter, warning that Tehran would deliver a strong response.
Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance downplayed the characterization of the confrontation as an
“active war.”
The developments come amid an escalating struggle between Washington and Tehran for control of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies. The confrontation is unfolding as a U.S. naval blockade reportedly prevents dozens of Iranian tankers stationed near Kharg Island from leaving the Gulf.