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The Iranian military has claimed a retaliatory attack on US Navy warships following a US strike on an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. These tit-for-tat attacks have pushed the fragile ongoing ceasefire between Washington and Tehran to a new level of extreme tension.
On Thursday (May 7), Iran claimed that US forces first violated the ceasefire by attacking an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.
In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy launched extensive missile and drone attacks targeting US warships. However, the US Central Command claimed they successfully repelled these attacks and retaliated against Iranian military installations.
According to Iran’s claim, US forces initially attacked one of their oil tankers near Jask port. In response, the IRGC Navy launched multiple anti-ship ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and explosive-laden drones targeting three US destroyers (USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason) passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command stated that they were able to repel Iran’s attack and no US warships were damaged. Subsequently, as a ‘self-defense’ measure, US forces reportedly carried out air and missile strikes on military installations on Iran’s Qeshm Island, Bandar Abbas, Minab, and Sirik.
Trump stated that they do not wish to escalate tensions but will use maximum force to protect their troops. On the other hand, Iran views this incident as US aggression.
Earlier, Iran had claimed that their attacks had severely damaged US warships, forcing them to flee towards the Gulf of Oman. Trump’s statement directly contradicted Iran’s claim.