US military naval units operating near the Strait of Hormuz came under Iranian missile fire after the US military allegedly attacked an Iranian oil tanker, Iranian state media reported Thursday, citing an unnamed military official.
Iranian reports claimed US vessels were forced to retreat after sustaining damage. It was not immediately clear when the incident took place.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that three US destroyers near the Strait of Hormuz were targeted by the Iranian navy.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
On Wednesday, the US military said it had disabled an Iranian-flagged oil tanker that was attempting to sail toward an Iranian port. US officials said American forces hit the tanker’s rudder using an F-18 fighter jet.
Iran accuses US of violating ceasefire
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said the US violated the ceasefire by targeting an Iranian oil tanker in Iranian territorial waters.
The Iranian military also accused Washington of carrying out airstrikes on civilian areas, including Qeshm Island, and said the attacks were conducted “in cooperation with some regional countries,” without naming them.
Also Read: US-Iran fighting resumes; Trump says ceasefire still holds
“The American aggressor, terrorist and bandit army, violating the ceasefire, targeted an Iranian oil tanker,” the statement said.
Iran also claimed another vessel entering the strait opposite the Emirati port of Fujairah was targeted.
IRGC says missiles, drones used in response
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said it responded with “various types of ballistic and anti-ship cruise missiles and destructive drones with high-explosive warheads.”
In a social media post, the IRGC said US forces acted against an Iranian oil tanker near the port of Jask.
It claimed intelligence surveillance showed “significant damage” to American forces and that three US ships quickly fled the Strait of Hormuz area.
CENTCOM denies US assets were hit
US Central Command said American forces intercepted what it called “unprovoked Iranian attacks” and responded with “self-defense strikes.”
CENTCOM said Iranian forces launched multiple missiles, drones and small boats as the USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta and USS Mason transited the Strait of Hormuz toward the Gulf of Oman.
“No US assets were struck,” CENTCOM said.
Also Read: Trump says Iran peace deal could be reached within week
It added that US forces eliminated inbound threats and targeted Iranian military facilities involved in the attacks, including missile and drone launch sites, command-and-control locations and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance nodes.
“CENTCOM does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces,” the statement said.
Blasts reported near Qeshm, Bandar Abbas
Iranian media reported several explosion-like sounds near Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island and the southern coastal city of Minab.
Fars news agency said residents heard multiple blasts near Bandar Abbas and reported that parts of Bahman Pier may have been struck during an exchange involving Iranian forces and “enemy forces.”
Tasnim also confirmed explosions in the area and said some sources linked the sounds to IRGC Navy operations warning vessels about unauthorized passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Also Read: Oil falls below $100 on Middle East peace hopes
Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported a blast at a pier on Qeshm Island, saying the incident remained under investigation.
Mizan news agency said the sounds in Qeshm were caused by air defenses intercepting several small drones, while Tasnim reported that two drones were brought down by air defenses in Bandar Abbas.
US strikes also reported near Iranian ports
A Fox News reporter, citing a senior US official, said the US military carried out strikes on Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas. Iranian state-linked outlets also reported aerial attacks along the coasts of Bandar Khamir, Sirik and Qeshm Island.
A reporter on Iranian state TV said there were no casualties or injuries after the reported US attacks in Bandar Abbas, adding that “life is moving on as normal.”
The Israeli military told AFP it was “not aware” of such a strike.
The clashes mark the first military Iranian response to the US blockade of Iranian ports.
Also Read: Trump predicts swift end to Iran war as Tehran reviews US proposal
Over recent weeks, the US military has seized several Iranian vessels and ordered dozens more to turn around. The naval siege has become a central part of President Donald Trump’s pressure campaign against Iran since the ceasefire took effect last month.
The latest skirmishes come as Washington and Tehran are reportedly in advanced talks to end the war.
Earlier this week, Trump ordered an operation to break Iran’s blockade on Hormuz, pushing the ceasefire closer to collapse. On Monday, the US said it shot down seven small Iranian drones, while Iran renewed drone and missile attacks against the United Arab Emirates.
.jpg)
