Iranian state television on Thursday reported that Iran carried out a missile strike on a United States oil tanker in the Persian Gulf, marking the latest escalation involving the region’s energy infrastructure.
According to a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the ship “was hit by a missile in the north of the Persian Gulf” and “is currently on fire.” The claim was broadcast by Iranian state media, though the incident has not yet been independently verified.
The Guards also stated that Iran now has “full control” of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway linking the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean. The strait is one of the world’s most critical oil and gas transit routes, through which a significant portion of global energy supplies pass.
The reported attack comes amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States.
Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the United States of committing an “atrocity at sea” after allegedly sinking an Iranian naval vessel near Sri Lanka.
In a post on X, Araghchi said the Iranian frigate, identified as the IRIS Dena, had been struck in international waters without warning. He claimed the vessel was operating far from Iran’s coastline and was carrying nearly 130 sailors.
“The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores,” he wrote, adding that the ship had been a guest of Indian Navy during its mission.
Araghchi warned that Washington would “bitterly regret the precedent it has set,” further raising concerns about the possibility of broader conflict in the region.
Authorities and international observers have yet to independently confirm both incidents.
