New US policy toward Iran: "Tanker for a tanker"

The US military attacked two Iranian government oil tankers as part of a wave of strikes carried out on Tuesday, US officials reported. This is the first time the US military has targeted Iranian tankers not to enforce a maritime blockade, but as a direct response to attacks on vessels.

A US official stated that this move is part of a new "tanker for a tanker" policy approved by President Donald Trump, aimed at deterring Iran from attacking ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Operation Details

US officials confirmed that approximately 100 targets were hit during Tuesday's strikes. The Iranian government tankers, anchored off the Iranian coast north of the US maritime blockade line, were struck by missiles launched from US drones, which targeted their engine rooms.

Other targets destroyed included:

• Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) air defense sites

• Radar systems

• Mine-laying equipment

• Military communication hubs

• Anti-ship cruise missile launchers and attack drone launchers

According to US officials, the Iranian retaliatory operation failed. Iran launched about 25 ballistic missiles, but only half reached Jordanian airspace; ten were intercepted, and three fell without causing damage. Attempts to strike US bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Erbil (Kurdistan) using drones and ballistic missiles were also thwarted by air defenses.

Strategic Objectives

The White House and US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that the strikes were a response to recent IRGC attempts to attack commercial vessels and US bases. The operation is also part of a broader plan to "mow the lawn"—preventing Iran from restoring the radar and missile capabilities required to threaten shipping in the strait.

A US official noted that the strikes have significantly degraded Iran's offensive capabilities in the region, providing commercial vessels with at least a month of reduced threat levels.

Despite the exchange of fire, US forces continue to escort commercial traffic. On Tuesday, approximately 40 ships carrying millions of barrels of oil passed through the strait safely. US forces intercepted several missiles and drones launched by the IRGC toward these vessels.

"The Iranians not only lost control of the Strait of Hormuz, they also lost control of the confrontation. They didn't achieve anything today," a US official said.