U.S. Hits Three Iranian Oil Tankers After IRGC Missiles Target a Carrier and a Destroyer; CENTCOM: "Shoot at Two of Ours, We Take Out Three of Yours"

On September 5, 2026, U.S. Central Command said American forces struck three Iranian oil tankers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired two ballistic missiles at a U.S. aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer, both of which evaded the attacks unharmed. CENTCOM said it permanently disabled the M/T Downy off Kharg Island and the M/T Stark 1 near Jask and destroyed the M/T Kylo in the Gulf of Oman after its crew was told to abandon ship. Adm. Brad Cooper said the U.S. would "if necessary, destroy Iran's limited and exposed oil fleet"; Hegseth posted that the U.S. would "destroy (and sink)" tankers if Iran fires on Navy ships.

The strikes escalate the administration's stated policy of exacting an economic price per attack, targeting commercial vessels rather than military sites, in the seventh month of a war Congress never authorized. Iran's Foreign Ministry called the strikes a war crime and a violation of the U.N. Charter. The exchange comes days after Reuters reported that senior aides want the conflict kept quiet until the midterms.

On September 6 the IRGC said it struck an unmanned U.S. vessel entering the Strait of Hormuz; the U.S. had not confirmed that claim.