The United States said Friday it struck two Iran-flagged oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, escalating already heightened tensions in key global shipping lanes and deepening uncertainty over maritime security in the Middle East.
The U.S. military said the vessels, which it described as unladen tankers attempting to enter an Iranian port, were hit in an operation aimed at enforcing a naval blockade it says is intended to restrict sanctioned Iranian oil movements.
U.S. Central Command said a fighter jet “disabled both tankers after firing precision munitions into their smokestacks,” releasing video footage it said documented the strikes.
The incident marks one of the latest in a series of maritime confrontations in the region, where military activity has intensified following months of instability linked to broader tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The strikes took place in the Gulf of Oman, a strategic waterway connecting the Arabian Sea to the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil trade typically passes.
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The U.S. military said the tankers were attempting to enter an Iranian port in what it described as a violation of blockade restrictions. Iran has not yet issued an official response to the latest incident.
The development comes amid a fragile and contested ceasefire framework between the two countries, which has repeatedly come under strain in recent days.
Earlier this week, the United States and Iran exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides accusing the other of initiating hostilities. The narrow strait, one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints, has become a focal point of military and economic pressure since tensions escalated earlier this year.
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President Donald Trump described earlier exchanges as “just a love tap” in comments to U.S. media, while also warning that Iran could face further strikes if it does not agree to nuclear-related negotiations.
In a separate statement on social media, Trump reiterated that Washington’s temporary truce with Tehran remains in place, even as military operations continue in parallel.
The latest strikes come against the backdrop of a broader confrontation that has disrupted maritime traffic in one of the world’s busiest energy corridors. The Strait of Hormuz normally handles around 20 percent of global oil shipments, making it a critical route for global energy markets.
Since the escalation of hostilities, tanker movements through the region have been significantly affected, with shipping companies reporting delays, rerouting and increased insurance costs.
U.S. officials have said the blockade and enforcement actions are aimed at preventing sanctioned Iranian oil exports from bypassing international restrictions. Washington has long accused Tehran of using maritime routes and intermediary vessels to sustain its energy exports despite sanctions.
The military situation has also coincided with wider diplomatic efforts, as Washington and Tehran have intermittently explored the possibility of renewed nuclear negotiations.
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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday he expected a response from Iran later in the day regarding a proposal aimed at restarting talks.
“We’ll see what the response entails. The hope is it’s something that can put us into a serious process in negotiation,” Rubio told reporters in Rome.
However, the latest escalation is likely to complicate those efforts, with analysts warning that continued military incidents at sea risk further destabilising an already fragile regional security environment.
Energy markets have already reacted to the broader conflict, with disruptions in maritime traffic contributing to volatility in global oil prices and heightened concern over supply security.
The Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz have historically been flashpoints during periods of U.S.-Iran tension, but recent exchanges represent one of the most sustained episodes of maritime confrontation in recent years.
As of Friday evening, neither side had announced de-escalation measures, and shipping monitoring groups continued to track vessel movements closely in and around the affected waters.
With diplomatic channels uncertain and military activity ongoing, the situation in the Gulf remains highly volatile, raising fresh concerns over the stability of global energy routes and regional security.
