Iranian State Media: US Military Attacks Oil Tanker in Strait of Hormuz

Reflecto News | Breaking News | Iran-US Conflict

TEHRAN — Iranian state media reported early Friday that US military forces attacked an Iranian oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, an act Tehran described as a “ceasefire violation” that allegedly prompted retaliatory missile strikes against American naval vessels, further escalating tensions in the critical waterway .

Iranian state television, citing a spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters — Iran’s highest operational command unit overseeing coordination between the regular army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — accused US forces of targeting an Iranian tanker traveling near the port city of Jask toward the Strait of Hormuz .

“The aggressive, terrorist, and pirate US military has violated the ceasefire by targeting an Iranian oil tanker traveling from Iran’s coastal waters near Jask toward the Strait of Hormuz, as well as another vessel entering the Strait of Hormuz near the Emirati port of Fujairah.”
— Spokesperson, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters (via Iranian state media)

The spokesperson further alleged that, “with the cooperation of some regional countries,” US forces carried out airstrikes on civilian areas along the coasts of Bandar Khamir, Sirik, and Qeshm Island . These claims have not been independently verified.

🇺🇸 US Confirms Action, Disputes Armed Vessel Claims

The Pentagon has confirmed that it conducted disabling fire against an Iranian-flagged tanker, but it described the action as a routine enforcement of the US naval blockade rather than a provocative act .

According to a statement from US Central Command (CENTCOM), the incident occurred on Wednesday, May 6, when the M/T Hasna, an unladen Iranian-flagged tanker, was transiting international waters en route to an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman in violation of the US-imposed blockade .

After “Hasna’s crew failed to comply with repeated warnings,” a US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fired several rounds from its 20mm cannon gun, disabling the tanker’s rudder . CENTCOM stated that Hasna “is no longer transiting to Iran” and that the “US blockade against ships attempting to enter or depart Iranian ports remains in full effect” .

This is the second such interdiction in recent weeks. On April 19, US forces disabled the M/V Touska, another Iranian-flagged vessel that ignored warnings while attempting to violate the blockade .

🇮🇷 Iran Claims Retaliatory Missile Strikes

Following the US action against the Hasna, Iranian state media claimed that its armed forces launched missiles at US military vessels east of the Strait of Hormuz and south of the port of Chabahar, reportedly inflicting “significant damage” . The Pentagon has not confirmed these claims and maintains that no US ships were hit .

Tehran has vowed a “crushing response” to any further US military action . The spokesperson warned:

“The criminal and aggressive America and its supporting countries should know that the Islamic Republic of Iran, as powerful as in the past, will give a crushing response to any aggression without the slightest hesitation.”
— Spokesperson, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters

💥 Broader Confrontation Near Qeshm Island

Iranian state media also reported a wider clash on Thursday, May 7, involving exchanges of fire with “enemy units” near Qeshm Island and the port city of Bandar Abbas, during which Iranian air defense systems reportedly shot down two “hostile drones” .

An explosion was reported at the Bahman Quarantine Dock on Qeshm Island, which Iranian media linked to the military confrontation unfolding nearby . Qeshm Island, home to approximately 150,000 residents, occupies a strategically vital position overlooking the Persian Gulf’s main shipping lanes and also hosts critical desalination and other infrastructure.

🛢️ Oil Market Spikes

Global oil prices rose sharply in Asian trading on Friday following the reports. Brent crude futures climbed $2.65, or 2.6%, to $102.70 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $2.23, or 2.3%, to $97.00 per barrel .

Energy prices have been highly sensitive to developments in the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately a fifth of the world’s oil and gas shipments normally pass . The effective closure of the waterway by Iran has sent fuel costs soaring, disrupted global trade, and placed significant economic pressure on importing nations .

🛑 A Fragile Ceasefire Under Severe Strain

Both sides are formally observing a fragile ceasefire that took effect on April 8 following weeks of shuttle diplomacy mediated by Pakistan. However, the Hasna interdiction and the retaliatory missile claims represent a significant operational escalation.

US officials have stressed that the strike on the Hasna and the subsequent self-defense actions do not signal a full return to all-out war or the end of the existing ceasefire arrangement . President Trump described the engagement to ABC News as “just a love tap” and stated that the ceasefire was still holding .

Nevertheless, Tehran has formally accused Washington of violating the truce . The hardline posture was reinforced by statements from Iranian officials warning that any future US military action would be met with a severe response.

📋 Key Takeaways

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