Washington/Amman: Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated further after the US military destroyed five Iranian oil tankers, citing recent attacks on American naval vessels. Iran subsequently launched a missile attack towards US military positions in Jordan.
According to Jordanian authorities, its air-defence systems intercepted 18 ballistic missiles, while two others landed in unpopulated areas. No casualties were reported. Jordan, a key US ally in the region, hosts American military forces.
The US Central Command said its forces targeted five Iranian tankers after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard allegedly attempted twice in two days to strike US Navy warships with ballistic missiles. The vessels identified by the US were Kivik, Charminar, Horizon 1, Riesco and Derya. American officials said crews were warned to abandon the ships before the strikes.
Iranian state television confirmed attacks on oil tankers near Jask port and Kharg Island, claiming the crews had been evacuated safely.
The latest escalation comes amid an intensifying standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global oil route. Iran has threatened to establish a new exclusion zone near the waterway, while the US has warned it will respond to attacks on its forces. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has imposed additional sanctions on Iran’s aviation sector, targeting more than two dozen commercial and private airlines as well as foreign cargo service providers.
Rising energy prices are adding to economic concerns. Experts have warned that continued military escalation around the Strait of Hormuz could further disrupt global energy supplies and increase pressure on the world economy.
