IRAN ATTACKS US DRONE, TARGETS OIL TANKERS IN RETALIATION FOR US STRIKES
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By: Fasasi Hammad
Iranian forces have attacked a US naval drone attempting to enter the Strait of Hormuz, hours after targeting oil tankers in retaliation for American strikes on three vessels, Iranian authorities said on Sunday.
The latest confrontation comes amid an escalating six-month conflict between Tehran and Washington, with both sides intensifying military and economic pressure against each other.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s elite military force, said its forces attacked an American unmanned surface vessel attempting to enter the strategic waterway, according to a statement aired on Iranian state television.
Earlier, the IRGC said its naval forces had targeted three oil tankers using what it described as an unauthorised route through the Strait of Hormuz, as well as three other vessels allegedly linked to the United States.
The Iranian military warned ships against using routes it considers unauthorised.
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The development followed US strikes on three tankers allegedly linked to the IRGC. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday that American forces had disabled two Iranian crude oil carriers and destroyed another vessel in the Gulf of Oman.
CENTCOM said the vessels were part of a network allegedly used to finance the IRGC and its regional allies.
The US military also said the Iranian forces had unsuccessfully attempted to attack American warships. CENTCOM Commander, Admiral Brad Cooper, warned that further attacks would attract stronger US retaliation.
“If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost — taking out three of yours,” Cooper said.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the US strikes as “illegal and aggressive actions”, while its military command warned that any continued American attacks would trigger a more severe response against US warships.
Iran has maintained significant control over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping route through which a substantial share of the world’s oil supplies traditionally passes. The United States, meanwhile, has continued efforts to restrict Iranian access to international trade through sanctions and a counter-blockade of Iranian ports.
The conflict has also increased tensions around commercial shipping in the Gulf, with Washington demanding that Tehran end attacks on vessels before any further negotiations can take place.
US President Donald Trump has sought to downplay the scale of the conflict, describing it as “small potatoes” for the United States, while Vice President JD Vance has said he would not describe it as a war.
Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei, however, warned that Tehran had adopted a new strategy against Washington that would significantly escalate pressure on the United States.
The latest clashes further raise concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz and the potential impact of prolonged hostilities on global oil supplies and shipping.
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