Iran says it attacked US oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Thursday it attacked a US oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz after the vessel allegedly ignored repeated warnings.

The IRGC said in a statement that the oil tanker Safesea Vishnu, owned by a US company and flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, was struck north of the strait early in the morning after failing to comply with warnings.

The Guards said maritime traffic in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz faces growing risks, holding the US responsible for the situation.

It urged commercial vessels to adhere to Iranian maritime regulations to avoid being targeted by missiles.

On March 2, Tehran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran, a move that has driven up shipping and insurance costs and pushed global oil prices higher, raising concerns over potential economic repercussions worldwide.

The attack came as the US and Israel continued airstrikes on Iran that began Feb. 28, killing some 1,300 people and injuring over 10,000 others.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Iraq, and Gulf countries that are home to US military assets.