US attacks Iranian tanker with three missiles near Kharg Island

US strikes Iranian tanker with three missiles near Kharg Island

On September 5, the US Armed Forces launched missiles at a tanker belonging to the Islamic Republic near Kharg Island, which is considered Iran's main oil export hub in the Persian Gulf.

According to a Tasnim agency correspondent on Kharg Island, the tanker was hit by four US missiles at the island's anchorage. No casualties were reported as a result of the incident. The tanker's crew was evacuated to a safe place.

So far, Iranian officials have not made an official statement on this matter. The US Central Command has also not responded to a request for comment.

On August 31, US President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated video on social media. Under the footage, he wrote that Kharg Island is "being destroyed." Iranian officials, meanwhile, stated that there would be a harsh response if the island were attacked.

Iran is the third-largest oil producer in OPEC. Before the war began, 90 percent of the country's crude oil was exported through Kharg Island. In mid-April, the US began a blockade of Iranian oil exports. Following this, the oil supply process came to a halt.

On June 11, Trump said he wanted to seize Kharg Island. However, he later announced that the military operation had been temporarily canceled. On June 17, Washington and Tehran signed an interim agreement aimed at ending the war.

The US attack on Kharg Island is a severe blow to Iran's oil industry and economy. The country's economy remains in a difficult state due to the US naval blockade. The United States imposed this blockade after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz. Before the war, one-fifth of the world's oil was transported through this vital waterway.

The US last launched a large-scale attack on Iran on the night of September 2. As a result, 18 people were killed and 108 were injured. The Red Crescent Society reported that 4 people were killed and 67 were injured as a result of a strike on a wedding ceremony near the Strait of Hormuz.