Iran-US war latest: Tehran retaliates after US strikes three Iranian oil tankers as conflict intensifies

The US and Iran have traded strikes on ships, the latest round of attacks since the conflict flared a week ago after a period of relative calm. US Central Command, which oversees the nation’s military in the Middle East, said it struck three Iranian oil tankers, including one off the coast of Kharg Island, near the nation’s oil export hub, after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles at two US Navy ships. Admiral ⁠Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, said: “Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose ⁠an even higher economic cost — taking out three of yours.” The IRGC responded by threatening intensified strikes against US military vessels in the region, and later said it targeted three tankers Tehran that it claimed were on unauthorised routes in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as as three US-linked vessels in other areas.

The exchange of attacks followed an escalation in the past week that threatens to deepen a conflict that has continued since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran in February. "Do not be deceived by the 'terrorist' U.S. military and refrain from ​any suspicious ⁠movement aimed at passing through unauthorised waterways," the ‌IRGC Navy said in a statement carried on Iranian state TV. "Otherwise, you will be targeted." Tasnim, the semi-official Iranian news agency, had reported that four US missiles hit a tanker in the area of Kharg's anchorage.

Tasnim quoted local sources as ‌saying there were no casualties and the tanker's crew was being evacuated. No ‌American personnel were harmed, Central Command said. At least five people were killed in a suspected US attack that hit a wedding in Iran after Tehran and Washington exchanged the heaviest strikes between them since July.

The Iranian Red Crescent (IRC) has asked the International Criminal Court to investigate the incident, calling for “an independent, impartial, thorough, and effective investigation” due to the “civilian character of the location”. Iran has accused the US of “war crimes”, but the US maintains that it does not target civilians. Below we look at how the attack took place and what both parties have said about it.

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