Tehran, Aug. 1 (V7N) – Iran reportedly attacked two oil tankers under US military protection in the Strait of Hormuz as tensions between Tehran and Washington continued to escalate, according to a report by The Guardian.
The report, published on Saturday (Aug. 1), said the incident occurred while US President Donald Trump was holding a cabinet meeting to discuss the ongoing conflict with Iran, rising global oil prices and their potential political impact ahead of the US midterm elections.
According to the report, the two tankers were attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz under US military escort when they came under attack.
In a statement issued on Friday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the two oil tankers were struck and stopped after allegedly ignoring Iranian instructions. The IRGC also claimed that four other tankers changed course and returned to their previous positions after the incident.
Iran alleged that the vessels had attempted to pass through the strategic waterway using an unauthorized route while under US air protection.
The Strait of Hormuz has remained heavily disrupted since hostilities between Iran and the United States resumed about two weeks ago, significantly affecting maritime traffic and global energy markets.
According to the report, crude oil prices climbed above $90 per barrel on Thursday following US strikes on Iranian targets launched in response to an attack on an American military base in Jordan.
The reported attack on the tankers has not been independently verified, and US authorities had not immediately commented on Iran's claims.
END/SMA/AJ
