TEHRAN: Tensions in the Middle East have escalated sharply after US forces reportedly destroyed three Iranian oil tankers, prompting Tehran to issue a stern warning of a broader and more forceful response. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the rules of warfare had changed and warned that any further attack on Iran’s interests or security would trigger a rapid and extensive retaliation.
According to US Central Command, American forces targeted three Iranian oil tankers following what Washington described as failed attacks by Tehran. The vessels identified were the M/T Downy near Kharg Island, the M/T Stark 1 near Jask and the M/T Kylo, also known as Noxen, in the Gulf of Oman.
US officials said crews were instructed to abandon the vessels before the strikes. CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper warned Iran that attacks on American ships would invite a significantly stronger response.
Iran, however, rejected the US account surrounding an earlier incident involving an American boat. Tehran claimed the vessel had attempted to enter a prohibited area near the Strait of Hormuz and said the action prompted the attack. Iran also alleged that three tankers travelling through an illegal route were targeted.
The latest confrontation has already caused casualties and substantial economic losses. Iranian officials have vowed that future attacks against the country will face a more severe response.
With both sides issuing increasingly aggressive warnings, fears are growing that the latest clashes could trigger a wider military confrontation across the strategically vital Middle East.
