The US military said on Friday (local time) that it fired on and destroyed two Iranian oil tankers after they exchanged fire with Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz overnight.
In a post on X, US Central Command (CENTCOM) wrote: “US forces disabled the M/T Sea Star III and M/T Sevda, May 8, before both vessels entered an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman in violation of the ongoing US blockade.”
The post further noted, “US CENTCOM enforced blockade measures against two unloaded Iranian-flagged oil tankers attempting to enter an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman. A US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet from USS George HW Bush (CVN 77) disabled both tankers after firing precision munitions into their incompatible stacks.”
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The US and Iran are working to end the war
The development comes as the United States and Iran continue to work on a framework agreement to help reach a peace deal. While Washington said on Friday it was still waiting for a response to its latest proposal to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt Tehran’s nuclear program, Tasnim news agency quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei as saying the Islamic Republic was still reviewing the proposal. Baghaei also spoke of a military confrontation with the US last night, accusing Washington of violating the ceasefire and international law.
He added that Iranian forces are closely monitoring the situation and are fully prepared to respond to any “aggression and adventure”.
The US says it responded to the attacks in the strait
The U.S. military said Thursday it had foiled attacks by Iran on at least three navy ships in the strait and hit Iranian military facilities in response, adding that no U.S. ships were damaged, the AP reported.
In a statement, CENTCOM said U.S. forces “eliminated incoming threats and targeted Iranian military installations responsible for attacks on U.S. forces, including missile and drone launch sites, command and control sites, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance nodes.”
The Strait of Hormuz, effectively closed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) since March, has become a stumbling block in negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Days after the first round of talks between the US and Iran failed to produce a deal, US President Donald Trump announced a blockade of Iranian ports in retaliation for the closure of the strait and jolt to global energy markets. In return, Tehran, which reopened a key passage responsible for transporting about a fifth of the world’s oil supplies, re-announced the closure of the narrow waterway, citing the US naval blockade.
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‘Unacceptable’ for Iranian agency to control Hormuz: Rubio
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that it was “unacceptable” for Iran to have a government agency that screens and taxes ships that want to pass through the strait.
Lloyd’s List Intelligence, a shipping data company, announced on Thursday that Tehran had created such an agency, known as the Gulf Straits Authority.
According to the report, the Islamic Republic’s efforts to formalize its control over major waterways have raised new concerns about international shipping, with hundreds of commercial vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf unable to reach the open sea.
“Will the world accept that Iran now controls an international waterway?” Rubio said. “What is the world prepared to do about it?”
Trump threatens to resume attacks
While Trump, who has extended the ceasefire indefinitely, has maintained that the truce is in place, he has also doubled down on threats to resume full-scale bombing unless the Islamic Republic accepts the deal and agrees to Washington’s demands.
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As the US and Iran continue to work towards a peace deal amid a shaky ceasefire, both sides have also continued to issue warnings against renewed military action. However, it remains to be seen whether the two sides will eventually reach an agreement to end the war or engage in renewed military confrontation.
Key things
- Recent actions by the U.S. military underscore the volatility of U.S.-Iranian relations amid peace talks.
- Control of the Strait of Hormuz remains a critical issue affecting global oil supplies and international shipping.
- The establishment of the Persian Gulf Authority by Iran raises significant concerns about international maritime operations.
