American forces have destroyed several Iranian oil tankers in response to two recent attempts by Tehran to launch ballistic missiles at US Navy vessels, according to a statement from the US Central Command. The military confirmed on Tuesday that no American warships were hit and that they remain on patrol in the vicinity, though it did not specify which vessels were involved. Officials also reported that no US personnel suffered any injuries during the operations.

The destroyed Iranian ships were identified as belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In its statement, US Central Command said that crews were warned to abandon their vessels before the tankers were rendered inoperable. The announcement also revealed that an earlier attack on an American aircraft carrier and missile destroyer on Saturday had been thwarted, prompting the destruction of three additional crude oil carriers.

"They will face consequences if they attempt to attack US naval ships," Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters during a visit to Colombia. "The exchanges have been very direct," he added. "Every time they do this, or try to do this, they lose tankers."

The tit-for-tat strikes highlight the difficulty the United States faces in shifting from active hostilities to a sustained campaign of economic pressure against Tehran. President Donald Trump and defense officials have repeatedly stated that Iran's military capabilities have been effectively neutralized, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently suggested that the pressure campaign "means there may not be a large-scale military restart."

Brent crude oil settled near $98 per barrel on the day but continued to climb following reports of explosions near Kharg Island, Iran's primary oil export hub. Located roughly 24 kilometers off the Iranian coast, the island serves as the loading point for approximately 90% of the country's crude exports. Trump has previously asserted that Iran's military has been weakened to the point where it cannot strike American targets.

While the US government announced in August a renewed focus on economic pressure against Iran and a slowdown in military operations, mutual attacks between the two sides have resumed. On Tuesday, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on dozens of companies supporting Iran's aviation industry, which came after Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that an American missile had struck an Iranian tanker near the Kharg coast.

In retaliation, Iran launched ballistic missiles at an airbase in Jordan, according to a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps cited by the semi-official Fars News Agency. Additionally, Iranian state television, citing a statement from the IRGC, reported that all tanker crews near the piers of Kuwait and Bahrain "should immediately abandon their ships, whether anchored or docked, as they will all become targets."

Iran also claimed on Tuesday to have seized an advanced underwater drone, which American officials described as "defective and malfunctioning." Reports of explosions near Kharg Island on Tuesday pushed oil prices higher, as the island's critical role in Iran's energy infrastructure draws significant attention. US strikes on the island have primarily targeted military objectives, though Trump has previously threatened to hit oil facilities and has even suggested occupying the export hub on occasion.