Iranian state media reports that US forces struck a second oil tanker near Jask after earlier strikes near Kharg Island, and that crews from both vessels are evacuating by lifeboat. The IRGC warns that all tankers anchored in Bahrain and Kuwait will be attacked in the near future in retaliation for the US strikes.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) tonight warned tanker crews anchored in Bahrain and Kuwait to evacuate immediately, threatening retaliatory attacks in response to US strikes on Iranian oil tankers. The threat came as Iranian state media claimed that US forces struck a second oil tanker near the port of Jask, after earlier strikes near Kharg Island. The crews of both vessels are reportedly evacuating by lifeboat, according to Iranian sources. The claims have not been independently verified, and the US has not commented.
The developments follow a series of reports tonight that began at 21:56 Jerusalem, when a US official told i24NEWS that American forces were striking Iranian oil tankers. Minutes later, Iranian sources claimed three tankers had been hit. Shortly thereafter, US officials confirmed to Fox News that strikes had been conducted near Kharg Island and Jask, describing the operation as part of a broader effort to damage Iran's economy. Fox News later reported the same, citing unnamed officials.
The IRGC threat against tankers in Bahrain and Kuwait continues a pattern of escalating rhetoric. As The Zioneer has previously reported, the IRGC warned Gulf residents in July to stay away from US bases and missile systems, and in June claimed to have attacked the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. On September 5, CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper warned that the US would systematically destroy Iran's oil fleet if aggression continued.
It remains unclear whether the IRGC will carry out its threat. The Iranian claims of a second tanker strike have not been independently corroborated. US Central Command has not issued a statement regarding the latest reports.
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