The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it attacked two U.S. vessels and eight oil tankers in the Gulf, including ships trying to pass through a restricted part of the Strait of Hormuz. That's according to a report from Al Jazeera on Tuesday, which cited a statement from Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency.
The IRGC claims these strikes were payback for earlier U.S. attacks on five Iranian oil tankers. The White House didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
Beyond the eight tankers, the IRGC also says it targeted 10 vessels that were trying to cross the waterway through what it called a "prohibited and unsafe" zone. Iran accused the U.S. of encouraging these "violating ships" and then reiterated that it has "surveillance" and "management" over the Strait of Hormuz.
When asked about the situation, the U.S. Department of War pointed to a statement from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) dated September 8. That statement said the IRGC "targeted a U.S. Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over the past two days." Fortunately, the vessel "successfully evaded" the attack.
This all comes as part of what's been called a "tanker-for-tanker" policy from the Trump administration. The U.S. had already struck two Iranian government oil tankers, and earlier said 40 ships had passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, President Trump is facing sharp criticism from both Democrats and Republicans over the war in Iran, especially as fuel prices hit record highs over Labor Day weekend. Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has been vocal, slamming Trump's claims of victory over Iran and pointing to surging diesel costs, which could reach $8 per gallon in California.
The situation remains tense, with both sides trading blows and the world watching to see how far this escalation goes.
