Iran-US, exchange of naval attacks in the Strait of Hormuz

U.S. and Iranian forces have engaged in a new, dangerous exchange of attacks in the waters around Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims to have launched ballistic missiles at an American aircraft carrier and a destroyer, asserting they damaged them and forced their withdrawal from the area.

In response, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated it struck and destroyed three Iranian oil tankers loaded with crude oil. One of the attacks occurred off the coast of Kharg Island, near a key hub for Iranian oil exports. Admiral Brad Cooper, head of CENTCOM, warned the IRGC: "If you fire on two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost by eliminating three of yours."

Iran condemned the American attacks as "illegal and aggressive actions" and threatened "more severe" retaliation against U.S. warships if hostilities continue.

Saturday's naval clash represents a dangerous escalation in a conflict that has been ongoing since February 2026, when the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran. The main theater of tension is the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic passage through which, before the war, one-fifth of the world's oil supplies transited.

Iran has maintained a grip on traffic in the Strait, while Washington has responded by imposing a naval blockade on Iranian ports. This standoff has already caused severe repercussions for Iran's economy, which is dependent on crude oil exports, and raised concerns about global energy supplies, with the price of Brent crude reaching new highs.

The situation unfolds within a delicate domestic political context for the United States, with midterm elections scheduled for November and a war that is proving increasingly unpopular. The American administration, through sanctions and economic pressures described as "economic suffocation," is seeking to intensify pressure on Tehran to end the Iranian blockade of the Strait.