Iran's IRGC Claims Attacks on US Vessels and Oil Tankers in Gulf

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed on Wednesday that it attacked two US vessels and eight oil tankers in the Gulf in response to what it described as a US attack on five Iranian tankers, according to Iranian state media citing a statement from the group. The IRGC stated that it targeted 10 ships attempting to cross what it called a "prohibited and unsafe" area of the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier on Wednesday, the IRGC confirmed in a statement that it had attacked a US base in the eastern Jordanian city of Al Azraq with ballistic missiles as retaliation for previous US attacks on Iranian oil tankers. This followed reports of missiles being launched from 12 different cities across Iran, marking the heaviest barrage since the end of Operation Roaring Lion, as reported by Army Radio, citing Iranian media. At least 35 missiles were reportedly launched towards Jordan, activating sirens at a US military base in the country. Jordan's state news agency, citing armed forces, reported that 20 ballistic missiles had been launched from Iranian territory, with 18 intercepted by Jordanian air defense systems. Two missiles fell in unpopulated areas, and there were no reported casualties, according to Jordan's military. Monitoring and assessment operations were ongoing, as stated by the agency. Jordan has not yet confirmed the reports of the strikes. A US official informed the Jerusalem Post that CENTCOM had struck the tankers as Iranian media reported explosions near Kharg Island. Iran's Mehr News Agency reported explosions in the vicinity of the Iranian oil hub, which is key for refining and exporting oil. A report by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency indicated that the attacks on the Iranian vessels resulted in no casualties, with the crew being evacuated. The report, citing local sources, noted that the targeted vessel was approximately four miles from Kharg Island. Additionally, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials, that Iran had launched an attack against US Navy ships on Monday. US forces responded by striking multiple Iranian tankers linked to the IRGC, with CENTCOM later confirming the destruction of five Iranian crude oil tankers on Tuesday. The WSJ's report confirmed that no American ships were hit in Iran's Monday attacks. Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned the US that if its vessels were attacked, it would retaliate against American interests in the Middle East, according to Reuters, citing Iranian state media. The Revolutionary Guards stated that ships in Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports hosting Americans would be targeted in response to US attacks on Iranian oil tankers. The Guards Navy advised all crews to evacuate, as reported by state media. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Iran on Tuesday that the US would continue to strike Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for attempted attacks on US warships. "Iran continues to try to hit US naval ships, and for every time they do that or try to do that, they're going to lose tankers," Rubio stated during a visit to Colombia. The American attack occurred days after Mohsen Rezaei, the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, announced plans to declare a restricted zone outside the Strait of Hormuz soon. The Sunday announcement, reported by state media, indicated that the zone would encompass areas in the Gulf. Rezaei added that maps of ships' passage in the Strait of Hormuz, agreed upon with Oman, would be signed in the coming days.