US strikes Iranian tankers after missile attacks on warship

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Navy issued a warning through state television, advising crews of oil tankers near ports in Kuwait and Bahrain to immediately abandon their vessels, stating they could be targeted in retaliation for U.S. actions. The Guard accused Kuwait and Bahrain of hosting U.S. forces and assisting in the attacks.

This incident follows a similar event on Saturday when the U.S. military reported striking three Iranian oil tankers after Navy warships were targeted with ballistic missiles. At that time, the U.S. warned it would "if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet." Iran subsequently announced plans to establish a new "exclusion zone" near the Strait of Hormuz for transiting vessels.

The latest strikes are part of President Donald Trump's strategy, employing both economic and military measures to conclude a prolonged conflict with Tehran. The Trump administration also announced sanctions on more than two dozen Iranian commercial and private airlines, along with foreign cargo service providers, as part of an effort to isolate Tehran.

Both the U.S. and Iran are vying for control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil passed before the current conflict. Rising energy prices present political challenges for President Trump and the Republican Party ahead of the November midterm elections. Brent crude briefly reached $99.46 per barrel on Tuesday.

A U.S. blockade of Iranian ports has significantly impacted the country's economy by restricting its oil exports. Meanwhile, the American military has been facilitating the transit of a limited number of ships through the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman. Iran, however, desires ships to adhere to a route of its choosing through the strait, which was historically considered an international waterway.