U.S. Central Command confirmed Saturday that American forces struck three Iranian crude oil tankers in retaliation for an attack on U.S. Navy warships. Two vessels were disabled near Kharg Island, while a third was destroyed in the Gulf of Oman.

Strike Details and Retaliation

CENTCOM stated that the strikes followed multiple unprovoked attacks by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on a U.S. aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer. American forces permanently disabled the IRGC-linked tankers M/T Downy off Kharg Island and M/T Stark 1 near Jask.

The unladen carrier M/T Kylo, also known as the Noxen, was destroyed in the Gulf of Oman after its crew was ordered to abandon ship. CNN reported verified audio showing a U.S. military aircraft issuing repeated warnings to the vessel before the strike, instructing the crew to get into lifeboats immediately.

Conflicting Accounts and Context

Hours before the U.S. confirmation, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that a tanker near Kharg Island’s anchorage was hit by four U.S. missiles. Tasnim claimed there were no casualties and that the crew had evacuated. Iranian authorities had not issued an official statement at the time of reporting.

The incident occurs days after President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated video on August 31 claiming Kharg Island was being blown to smithereens. Tehran dismissed this claim, though Iranian officials have vowed a strong response to any attack on the island.

Impact on Oil Exports

Kharg Island is critical to global energy markets, handling roughly 90% of Iran’s crude exports. The terminal has a loading capacity of about 7 million barrels per day, with most cargoes historically bound for China and India.

Exports through the terminal have already been constrained by a U.S. naval blockade in place since mid-April. Data from Kpler and Windward cited by outlets this week showed that loading operations at Kharg had largely halted. Vessel traffic near the island is at its lowest level in over a month.

South Korea is reportedly considering a military deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, aligning with Washington’s efforts to isolate Iran. The government is evaluating options ranging from combat to search operations, balancing these moves against domestic legal requirements and security on the Korean Peninsula.

The potential move comes as the European Union endorsed the Trump administration’s "Operation Economic Outcast," launched in late August. This campaign targets Iran’s access to digital assets, advanced technology, gold, commercial aviation, and shipping.

EU Backs US Pressure Campaign

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent praised the EU’s "strong and early stance" on Thursday. He stated that the world is sending a clear message to the Iranian regime. Bessent pressed other nations at the G20 finance gathering in Asheville, North Carolina, to support the U.S. effort. He warned that countries continuing to do business with Iran could face exclusion from the dollar-based financial system.

Brussels endorsed efforts to curb Tehran’s destabilizing activities on August 31. This support aims to increase economic pressure on Iran and restart peace talks.

Balancing Regional Security

President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce U.S.-South Korea military exercises last month. Cited reasons included high costs, his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and South Korea’s refusal to join U.S. efforts against Iran. Critics warned that scaling back drills could weaken allied readiness against North Korea.

South Korea later backed Trump’s efforts to revive talks with Pyongyang. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac insisted that any dialogue must produce progress on denuclearization without weakening Seoul’s security posture. He emphasized that Seoul wants close coordination with Washington and does not want to be sidelined.

Officials noted that deploying even one or two service members overseas would legally qualify as a troop deployment under the Constitution. Nothing has been decided, but options are under review.