Missile strikes were reported against oil tankers operating near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday as tensions between Iran and the United States sharply escalated following ongoing military confrontation in the Gulf region.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had targeted several vessels linked to the United States and Britain in retaliation for recent US-Israeli military operations against Iranian targets, though the claims have not been independently confirmed by US or UK authorities.
Maritime security sources said at least one tanker caught fire after being struck near waters off Oman, sending smoke billowing from the vessel and prompting emergency response efforts. Initial reports indicated casualties, though details remained unclear.
The incidents come amid intensifying hostilities following Washington’s large-scale military campaign against Iran, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” which US officials say targeted naval and military infrastructure.
Former US president Donald Trump said US forces had destroyed and sunk nine Iranian naval vessels during the operation, describing the strikes as part of efforts to weaken Iran’s military capabilities. Independent confirmation of the claim was not immediately available.
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US Central Command said earlier that American forces struck an Iranian Jamaran-class naval corvette at the start of operations in the Gulf of Oman, adding that military action remained ongoing.
The reported tanker attacks have heightened fears of disruption to global energy supplies, as the Strait of Hormuz remains the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoint. Roughly 20 percent of globally traded crude oil passes through the narrow waterway connecting Gulf producers to international markets.
Shipping companies and insurers are closely monitoring developments, with some operators reassessing transit routes amid rising security risks.
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Energy analysts warned that sustained attacks on commercial shipping could trigger sharp increases in oil prices and insurance costs, potentially affecting global fuel markets already rattled by geopolitical uncertainty.
Iran said the strikes formed part of a broader retaliatory campaign following US and Israeli attacks inside Iranian territory. Iranian officials claimed dozens of military and political figures were killed in earlier air strikes, though casualty figures have not been independently verified.
US officials confirmed that three American service members were killed and several others injured in regional attacks linked to the escalating confrontation.
Military activity has also been reported across parts of the Middle East, including drone interceptions and missile defence operations involving allied forces stationed in Bahrain and Iraq.
Satellite imagery reviewed by security analysts showed smoke rising from vessels and port facilities along Iran’s southeastern coastline near the Gulf of Oman, although the extent of damage remains unclear.
The escalation marks one of the most serious threats to maritime security in the Gulf since the so-called “tanker wars” of the 1980s, when attacks on oil shipments disrupted regional trade during the Iran-Iraq conflict.
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Diplomatic efforts appeared to continue alongside military action. Trump said Washington had agreed to hold talks with Iran’s leadership despite ongoing hostilities, suggesting potential openings for negotiations even as fighting persisted.
Global markets are watching developments closely, with traders warning that any prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could significantly tighten oil supply and push crude prices sharply higher.
Governments across Asia and Europe have begun assessing contingency plans to secure energy imports should shipping through the corridor be affected.
The situation remains fluid, with confirmation of reported tanker strikes, naval losses and broader battlefield claims still emerging as both sides continue military operations across the region.
