US forces have stepped up operations against Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf region following claims that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted US Navy warships with ballistic missiles, with crude oil prices nearing $100 per barrel as tensions in the region escalate again.

Five Iranian crude oil tankers were targeted on Tuesday in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced in a social media post the same day. The vessels were identified as the M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1, M/T Riesco and M/T Derya. Both locations matter for oil flows: Kharg Island hosts Iran's main crude oil export terminal, while the Gulf of Oman lies just outside the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint for a substantial share of the world's seaborne crude.

According to CENTCOM, crews were directed to abandon the tankers before they were struck and rendered inoperable. The command said the latest action followed two failed missile attacks on a US Navy warship, adding that no American personnel were injured.

The operation marks the second round of US strikes against Iranian crude oil tankers in less than a week. On September 5, US forces targeted three Iranian crude oil tankers after what CENTCOM described as attempted IRGC attacks on a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer. Key developments to watch include further CENTCOM statements, tanker traffic through the region, and crude prices, which are already approaching $100 per barrel.

CENTCOM said the tankers are part of an Iranian shadow network used to generate funds for the IRGC and its regional proxies. US sanctions have long sought to restrict Iran's crude exports and the revenue they generate, making tanker operations in the Gulf a focal point of the broader standoff.

Source: Ship & Bunker — https://shipandbunker.com/news/world/396560-us-hits-five-more-iranian-tankers-as-tensions-escalate