US sinks five Iranian tankers as Tehran vows retaliation against Kuwait and Bahrain

United States forces confirmed on Tuesday that they had destroyed five Iranian oil carriers in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes came after Tehran launched two ballistic missile attacks on a US warship earlier in the week.

The loss of the tankers, identified as the Kivik, Charminar, Horizon 1, Riesco and Derya, marks the most significant maritime engagement between the two rivals since the conflict escalated six months ago. US Central Command said crews were ordered to abandon ship before the vessels were rendered inoperable.

Why the attacks matter

Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz account for roughly a fifth of global oil trade. Any perceived threat to the waterway can trigger price spikes, as seen on Wednesday when Brent crude rose $1.57 to $99.49 a barrel.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also announced they had captured a US unmanned submarine near the strait, a claim the Pentagon dismissed as a malfunctioning drone. The incident underscores the heightened tension over undersea surveillance and the potential for miscalculation.

We trapped one of the most modern, intelligent and unmanned submarines of the terrorist American army at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s next move

In a statement posted to state news agency IRNA, the Guards warned oil tankers anchored or docked in Kuwait and Bahrain to vacate their vessels, saying they would be targeted in retaliation for the US strikes.

Jordan reported that its air‑defence systems shot down 18 of 20 ballistic missiles launched from Iranian territory, suggesting regional allies are preparing for further escalation. Analysts expect the United States to maintain a naval presence in the Gulf while diplomatic channels remain strained.

Should Tehran follow through on its threats, shipping companies may reroute vessels around the Arabian Sea, adding days to transit times and increasing freight costs. The situation also puts pressure on oil‑producing nations to stabilise markets amid the ongoing conflict.

For now, both sides appear locked in a tit‑for‑tat cycle that could keep the Gulf’s waters volatile for the foreseeable future.