US military attacks Iranian oil tankers again

According to media reports, the US military has again attacked several Iranian tankers that are said to be linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The attacks were in response to missile attacks on a US Navy warship, the AP news agency, Fox News and the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

It was only on Saturday that the US military announced that it had attacked three Iranian oil tankers. According to Fox News, the new attacks were part of US efforts to isolate Iran economically. Iran is heavily dependent on its revenue from oil exports.

Iranian media had previously reported several explosions on Tuesday off the island of Kharg in the Persian Gulf and near the port city of Jask on the Strait of Hormuz. According to the pro-government Mehr news agency, explosions were heard in various parts of Kharg island, including in the port area.

Iran warns of new retaliatory attacks

Kharg Island is the main export terminal for Iranian oil in the Persian Gulf. A large portion of oil production is shipped from there. During the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988), Charg was repeatedly the target of attacks because of its strategic importance.

The attacks are the latest in a series of mutual attacks between Iran and the United States. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy called on the crews of oil tankers in the waters off Kuwait and Bahrain to abandon their ships immediately. These could be attacked in retaliation for the US attacks on Iranian tankers, Iranian state television said. US troops are stationed in Kuwait and Bahrain.