Tehran: US Central Command said American forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers on Tuesday after the IRGC targeted a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over two days. CENTCOM said the warship evaded the attacks and no US personnel were harmed.
The IRGC said its navy targeted two US vessels and eight oil tankers in the Persian Gulf and also attacked 10 ships attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement carried by Iranian state media.
The United States, Britain, France and Germany formally submitted a resolution on Iran to the IAEA Board of Governors, advancing an effort to refer Tehran to the UN Security Council over what they say is its failure to comply with nuclear nonproliferation obligations, AP reported.
Oil prices rose more than $1 in early Wednesday trading after Iran’s missile attack on Jordan, with Brent crude climbing 1.6% to $99.49 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate rising 1.72% to $94.63, Reuters reported.
The IRGC said it launched ballistic missiles at the Al-Azraq base in Jordan in retaliation for US strikes on Iranian oil tankers. Jordan said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed 18 of 20 missiles launched from Iran, while the remaining two fell in unpopulated areas without causing casualties.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran would lose oil tankers each time it attempted to strike US naval vessels, saying, “for every time they do that or try to do that, they’re going to lose tankers.” The IRGC said Tuesday that its navy had targeted two US vessels and eight oil tankers in the Persian Gulf in response to US attacks on five Iranian tankers.
In a statement carried by state media, the IRGC said 10 other ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz were also targeted. All US troops in Jordan are accounted for following IRGC missile attacks, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing a US official.
Jordan’s military said its air defenses destroyed 18 of 20 ballistic missiles launched from Iran, while two fell in unpopulated areas without causing casualties. The IRGC said the missile attack on the Al-Azraq base in Jordan was carried out in retaliation for US strikes on Iranian oil tankers.
For more details: Navamalayalam.com