The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly claimed to have attacked two U.S. vessels and eight oil tankers in the Gulf, including vessels attempting to transit a restricted area of the Strait of Hormuz.
Strait of Hormuz Under Iranian Control
According to a report by Al Jazeera on Tuesday, citing a statement made to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, the IRGC claims it struck U.S. vessels and the other tankers in response to the earlier strikes carried out by the U.S. on five Iranian oil tankers.
The White House did not immediately respond to Benzinga‘s requests for comment.
The IRGC also claimed to have targeted 10 vessels attempting to traverse the waterway through what it described as a “prohibited and unsafe” zone, the report said, accusing the U.S. of inciting support for these “violating ships.” The IRGC then reiterated Iran’s “surveillance” and “management” of the Strait of Hormuz.
Responding to a request for comment, the U.S. Department of War (DOW) pointed to a statement released by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) dated September 8, which said that the IRGC “targeted a U.S. Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over the past two days.” The statement said the vessel, however, “successfully evaded” Iran’s attempted attack.
Trump’s Tanker-for-Tanker Policy
The Trump administration had reportedly approved a “tanker-for-tanker” policy against Iran, as the U.S. had carried out strikes on two Iranian government oil tankers earlier. The U.S. had also earlier said that 40 ships had passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Trump faces staunch criticism from both Democratic Party leaders and the GOP amid the war in Iran as fuel costs touched record highs during the Labor Day weekend. Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene slammed Trump’s claims about victory over Iran, pointing to surging diesel costs, which could hit $8/gallon in California.
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