The US military said about 90 commercial vessels had been redirected under its blockade of Iran, with others disabled or boarded. Central Command also said strikes left two Iranian crude tankers permanently disabled and sank a third. Iran warned of a faster and heavier response and claimed attacks on US naval assets; Central Command rejected those claims and said its ships evaded the strikes.
The US military said about 90 commercial vessels had been redirected under its blockade of Iran, with some others disabled or boarded. The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed since the war began in February, while the United States has helped ships use a southern route. Iran regards control around the strait as its main source of leverage in the region.[1], [2]
Centcom said strikes on Saturday permanently disabled two Iranian crude tankers near Kharg Island and Jask and sank a third in the Gulf of Oman. Iran's foreign ministry called the attacks illegal and a war crime. Kharg Island is Iran's principal oil-export hub. Iran's oil exports were expected to remain near zero under the blockade.[1], [2]
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned of a faster, heavier and more painful response to US attacks. Iranian state media said the navy struck a remotely controlled US vessel approaching the Strait of Hormuz. Centcom rejected that account and said Iranian attacks on US warships had been evaded without harm to American personnel.[1], [2]
