Tehran, Iran – The United States continues to implement military force and economic sanctions against Iran, prompting Iranian authorities to consider more forceful responses. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) released video on Saturday showing three Iranian crude oil tankers being struck – one off Kharg Island, another near Jask, and a third in the Gulf of Oman. According to CENTCOM, two of the tankers were 'permanently disabled,' while a third sank following extensive bombing.
In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) aired its own video showing explosives-laden projectiles hitting multiple ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC stated, 'Aggressor US must know that it has no way but to leave the region and stop its malignance.' They also reported that a US-built sea drone was hit while attempting to enter Iranian waters.
The IRGC claimed to have fired several ballistic missiles at a US aircraft carrier and another warship involved in the naval blockade of Iran’s southern ports. They reported that both vessels sustained damage and fled, although CENTCOM stated that the attacks were 'evaded.' The IRGC interpreted the US acknowledgment of missile launches as evidence of their 'offensive capabilities.'
During a parliamentary meeting, Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Tehran has inflicted 'significant blows' to US bases in the region, suggesting that the era of proportionate responses has ended. He warned that any further attacks on Iranian interests would be met with 'faster, heavier and more painful' strikes.
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the US attacks on Iranian ships as illegal and a 'war crime' contrary to the United Nations Charter. US and Iranian officials have differing interpretations of the situation, with the Trump administration claiming that more vessels have transited the Strait of Hormuz under US guidance, while Iranian authorities assert that the strait remains closed.
The US military reported that approximately 90 commercial vessels have been redirected due to the blockade, with several more disabled or boarded. Crude oil exports from the Middle East in August were down 39 percent compared to earlier in the year, according to TankerTrackers, with a current deficit of 7.2 million barrels per day.
Iranian authorities confirmed difficulties in exporting crude oil past US warships but noted that this does not equate to a total halt. President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that up to 90 million barrels of oil were exported during a brief period when a memorandum of understanding with the US was in effect. Some oil is stored outside the blockade, allowing Iran to sell it at a discount to China despite US sanctions.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned that there are approximately 30 million barrels of Iranian crude oil left that China has not purchased, suggesting that these supplies will run out soon. He described the blockade and sanctions as part of Operation Economic Outcast, aimed at reducing Iran’s trade and isolating its population.
Iran’s Economy Ministry has established an 'economic war headquarters' to address the pressures of high inflation, unemployment, and other economic issues. IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi claimed that the US incurs more economic damage from the blockade than Iran does, citing reduced US strategic energy reserves as an example.