In response to U.S. airstrikes targeting three Iranian oil tankers—launched after Iran fired ballistic missiles at U.S. warships—Iran has retaliated by attacking oil tankers and U.S.-linked vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

According to AFP and Reuters on the 5th local time, the Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated in a release that it attacked three oil tankers transiting "unauthorized routes" in the Strait of Hormuz, along with three U.S.-affiliated vessels in other waters.

The Revolutionary Guard claimed that the attacks were in retaliation for the U.S. strikes on Iranian oil tankers earlier that day, while warning other vessels against using unauthorized routes.

Earlier, the U.S. Central Command stated that it had attacked three Iranian oil tankers in response to the IRGC firing ballistic missiles at two U.S. Navy warships patrolling the area.

The U.S. military explained that it disabled the Downy near Kharg Island, Iran's largest oil export terminal, and the Stark 1 near Jask, while completely destroying the Cairo in the Gulf of Oman.

Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, warned, "If they attack two of our ships, we will strike three to impose an even greater economic cost," adding that additional strikes against Iran's crude oil transport fleet could be launched if necessary.

In response, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which jointly commands the Iranian armed forces, countered that if U.S. attacks continue, retaliation against U.S. warships will be "more powerful than before, with the possibility of an expanded scope of attacks."

The armed confrontation between the U.S. and Iran has re-escalated following U.S. military strikes on August 30 against Iranian rocket launchers intended for laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

Since then, a cycle of retaliation has persisted, with Iran attacking U.S. military bases in Jordan and Kuwait, and the U.S. striking IRGC-related targets and oil tankers in response.