Iranian military says it attacked US ships after they targeted tanker | US-Israel war on Iran News
Iran Reports Retaliation Against U.S. Navy Following Oil Tanker Incident
Published May 7, 2026
TEHRAN — The Iranian military announced it retaliated against U.S. Navy vessels after American forces attacked an oil tanker in Iranian territorial waters. This incident marks a significant escalation, further straining the tenuous ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters issued a statement on Thursday, claiming that U.S. airstrikes targeted civilian areas, including Qeshm Island, and accused the U.S. of violating the ceasefire “in cooperation with some regional countries,” though it did not identify those nations.
The Iranian military’s statement asserted that its response caused “significant damage” to U.S. ships. It declared, “The criminal and aggressor America and its supporting countries should know that the Islamic Republic of Iran, as powerfully as in the past, will give a crushing response to any aggression without the slightest hesitation.”
This incident represents Iran’s first military response to continued U.S. blockades on its ports. In recent weeks, U.S. forces have seized several Iranian vessels and ordered numerous others to alter their course.
The naval blockade has been a central feature of the U.S. pressure campaign against Iran following the enactment of a ceasefire last month. Reports from various Iranian state-affiliated media outlets indicate that explosions were heard in Qeshm Island, the Bandar Abbas port, and the southern coastal city of Minab.
Additionally, Iran’s semi-official news agency Tasnim reported that three U.S. Navy destroyers were allegedly fired upon by Iranian forces and retreated toward the Gulf of Oman.
The U.S. Central Command declined to comment when contacted for a response.
This exchange of hostilities occurs amidst reports of advanced negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at concluding the ongoing conflict. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump ordered operations to dismantle Iran’s blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, actions that have aggravated tensions and brought the ceasefire to a precarious situation.
On Monday, the U.S. reported that it shot down seven small Iranian drones, while Iran renewed drone and missile attacks against the United Arab Emirates.
