Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Thursday that it had struck a U.S. oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf, causing the vessel to catch fire, according to a statement carried by Iranian state media. The claim has not been independently confirmed by the United States or other maritime authorities.
In its statement, the IRGC said that during a time of war, control over passage through the Strait of Hormuz rests with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and that all military and commercial ships belonging to the United States, Israel, European countries, and their supporters would be denied passage and targeted if detected.
The announcement comes amid a broader escalation of hostilities following recent military operations involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Tehran’s claim follows earlier reports this week asserting similar attacks in the Gulf region, though independent confirmation remains lacking.
At this point, no official response has been issued by Washington or independent maritime authorities regarding the tanker’s status, or about possible casualties or damage assessments.
The Persian Gulf and the nearby Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which a significant portion of global oil supplies transit, have seen rising tensions as military actions and retaliatory strikes between Iran and U.S./Israeli forces have intensified over recent days.