Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it struck two oil tankers attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz under a US air escort, bringing them to a halt. The IRGC said the tankers were 'non-compliant' and that four other tankers quickly changed course and returned to their previous positions.
The incident comes amid sharply heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington. US President Donald Trump has threatened strikes against Iran, and an Iranian official, quoted by the Tasnim news agency, said comprehensive plans are in place to respond to any 'mad' US strikes.
No further details about the tankers, including their nationalities or cargo, were immediately available. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical shipping route through which a significant share of the world's oil passes, and any disruption there can affect global energy markets.
The IRGC statement did not specify when the strike occurred or whether there were any casualties. The US air escort referenced in the report suggests a US military presence in the area, though the exact role of the escort was not described.
Neither Washington nor the tanker operators have yet commented on the incident. The development raises the risk of direct confrontation between Iran and the United States in the strategic waterway.