US and Iran trade retaliatory attacks on ships as conflict flares

The US and Iran traded retaliatory attacks on ships on Saturday, in the latest round of strikes since fighting flared up a week ago following a month of relative calm.

The US military said it had “permanently disabled” two Iran-linked oil tankers, including one near Kharg Island, and “completely destroyed” a third in the Gulf of Oman.

Iran’s state media confirmed the strikes and said Tehran had attacked three US-affiliated vessels in response, as well as three oil tankers travelling through the Strait of Hormuz along an “unauthorised” route.

The BBC has approached US Central Command (Centcom) for comment about Iran’s latest claims to have targeted US ships.

The strikes come a day after President Donald Trump dismissed the conflict as “small potatoes”, with little apparent progress towards ending the six-month war. He has not commented on Saturday’s attacks.

The news of Iran’s latest retaliation came hours after Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on social media: “It’s simple: if Iran shoots at US ships, we will destroy (and sink) their oil tankers.”

According to US Central Command (Centcom), two US warships had been targeted by Iran before the American attack on three Iran-linked oil tankers.

Centcom said it “successfully evaded” the multiple attacks from the IRGC earlier in the day, which were targeting a US aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer. No American troops were harmed, it said.