Explosions Reported Near Kharg Island Amid US Threats to Iranian Tankers
Explosions shook the Persian Gulf near Kharg Island amid reports of an attack on an Iranian oil tanker. The US military reportedly ordered tankers to clear the area as Iran threatens retaliation against American bases.
Explosions were reported Tuesday evening near Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, amid indications of an attack on an Iranian oil tanker operating in the area. According to reports, the United States issued threats against three Iranian oil tankers near the strategic island.
The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran addressed the incident, stating that the US military ordered Iranian oil tankers to clear the area with the intent to attack them. He warned that any strike against Iranian tankers would prompt the Iranian armed forces to retaliate by targeting American bases in the region.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the seizure of an unmanned US submarine operating in the gulf. A spokesperson for the Revolutionary Guard stated that no advanced technology can evade their surveillance systems in the Strait of Hormuz, pointing to the dawn capture of an advanced US unmanned underwater vessel as proof.
Kharg Island handles the vast majority of Iran's petroleum exports and serves as a vital strategic asset for Tehran, accounting for roughly 90% of the country's oil shipments. The facility represents perhaps the most economically sensitive target for the Iranian state.
Days prior, US President Donald Trump claimed the island had been "destroyed," though a US official clarified that no military strike had taken place. However, the semi-official Iranian Fars news agency reported explosions in the area on Saturday, attributing them to an apparent US strike targeting an oil tanker.
