US Military Sinks Iranian Oil Tanker in Gulf of Oman, Triggering Retaliatory Missile Strike on Jordan

US Central Command released footage showing the tanker M/T Riesco sinking in the Gulf of Oman following an attack by the US military. The US military struck five Iranian tankers on Tuesday, sinking one, after Iran fired ballistic missiles at a US Navy warship, marking a major escalation in Middle East hostilities.

The attacks triggered a strong retaliation from Iran, which launched a missile barrage toward regional US ally Jordan, claiming it was targeting US military assets. US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that four crude oil carriers in the Gulf of Oman and one near Kharg Island, a key hub for Iranian oil exports in the Persian Gulf, were struck on Tuesday. Footage posted to X by the military showed the M/T Riesco on fire and sinking.

CENTCOM stated that US forces instructed the crews of the targeted vessels to abandon ship before striking. According to Iranian state media, the crews of two vessels were brought ashore in lifeboats. The US strikes were a direct response to two separate Iranian attempts to attack a US Navy warship over the preceding two days. CENTCOM confirmed that the US ship successfully evaded the missiles, continued patrolling regional waters, and reported that no American personnel were harmed.

This exchange of strikes occurs as the US focuses its strategy on increasing economic pressure on the Tehran regime. This approach involves prioritizing strikes against targets around the Strait of Hormuz, conducting escort operations for commercial vessels through the vital waterway, and maintaining a naval blockade on Iranian ports.

In retaliation, Iran fired missiles at Jordan, targeting the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, a facility utilized by US forces. The Jordanian army announced that its air defenses intercepted 20 ballistic missiles, successfully destroying 18, while two landed in unpopulated areas with no reported casualties.

These events follow weekend strikes by US forces against three Iranian crude oil carriers, which were launched in response to an Iranian attempt to target a US aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer. The attack on Jordan marks a significant geographic expansion of direct Iranian military action, highlighting the increasing risk of the conflict spreading beyond the main belligerents, according to a Wednesday update from shipping intelligence firm Marisks.

Hamidreza Azizi, a senior Iran analyst at the International Crisis Group think tank, noted on X that Iran's repeated attempts to attack US warships and the increased quality and quantity of its missiles demonstrate a clear pattern of gradual escalation. Additionally, Iran issued threats on Tuesday targeting oil tankers near Bahraini and Kuwaiti ports. State broadcaster IRIB quoted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warning all crews on oil tankers near ports in Kuwait and Bahrain to leave their vessels immediately, stating they would be targeted due to those nations hosting American forces.

Azizi pointed out that an Iranian attack on regional port-stationed tankers, rather than vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz, would be unprecedented. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking during a trip to Barranquilla, Colombia, warned Tehran that the US would retaliate every time its naval ships are targeted, stating that Iran will continue to lose tankers with every attack attempt.

As part of its ongoing pressure campaign against Tehran, the Trump administration also implemented sweeping sanctions on Tuesday against Iran's airline industry. The measures target 27 Iranian airlines and nine service providers and sales agents accused of supporting Mahan Air, an entity sanctioned since 2011 for providing key support to the IRGC.

While the US campaign has placed unprecedented pressure on Iran and strained its population, Iranian leaders have downplayed the impact. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X on Tuesday, criticizing Washington's reliance on additional sanctions after previous efforts failed to achieve their objectives.