Iran targets three US ships, three oil tankers in Hormuz in retaliation for US strikes, IRGC claims

The Iranian Navy targeted three oil tankers traveling through the Strait of Hormuz and three US-affiliated ships in retaliation for the three oil tankers hit earlier in the day by US forces, the IRGC claimed on Saturday.

CENTCOM has not confirmed the strikes.

The IRGC warned against ships transiting the strait through routes unauthorized by Iran.

US strikes three Iranian tankers

The US struck three Iranian oil tankers earlier, US Central Command  CENTCOM said, including one off the coast of Kharg Island, near Iran's key oil export hub.

The strikes were carried out after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles at two US Navy ships, CENTCOM said.

“Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost – taking out three of yours," said Admiral Brad Cooper, head of CENTCOM.

Iran threatened intensified strikes against US military vessels in the region after the US strikes.

"If the evil, insecurity and harassment of Iranian ships and the naval blockade of Iran continue, the strikes of the Islamic Republic of Iran's armed forces against U.S. military vessels in the region will be more severe than before, and there is a possibility of their expansion," Iran's military command said in a post on state media.