The US military diverted 92 commercial vessels during operations enforcing Iran’s naval blockade, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced. In addition to these diversions, US forces disabled three commercial vessels and boarded and searched two others as part of efforts to uphold the blockade.
These operations were conducted to ensure adherence to the naval blockade imposed in the region. In a significant development, US forces struck three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday, including one near Kharg Island, a critical hub for Iran’s oil exports.
The strikes followed ballistic missile attacks by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on two US Navy ships. Admiral Brad Cooper, head of CENTCOM, emphasized the message to the IRGC: “If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost — taking out three of yours.”
Earlier reports from Iranian semi-official sources indicated that four US missiles hit a tanker anchored near Kharg Island. Local sources confirmed there were no casualties and that the tanker’s crew was being evacuated. CENTCOM confirmed no American personnel were injured during these incidents.
Meanwhile, Iran has vowed to intensify efforts to mitigate the economic damage caused by US sanctions. A senior Iranian official warned of a “painful response” should Iran face further attacks. Six months after US-Israeli strikes against Iran, the conflict appears to have reached a stalemate, with a preliminary ceasefire agreement from June unraveling and limited progress in diplomatic negotiations.
After a lull in military actions throughout much of July, retaliatory strikes have resumed. CENTCOM’s recent strikes on Iranian tankers were in direct response to the IRGC’s missile attacks on US naval vessels. Following these events, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated that the US must recognize that the rules of engagement have changed, warning that any future attacks on Iran’s interests will provoke faster, stronger, and more severe retaliation.
Tehran continues to demonstrate its capability to target US interests in neighboring countries and disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage that previously handled about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply before the conflict escalated.
