CENTCOM Says Iran Took the First Shot
U.S. Central Command says American forces struck three Iranian crude oil carriers on Sept. 5 after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles toward two U.S. Navy warships patrolling regional waters. According to CENTCOM, a U.S. aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded multiple unprovoked Iranian attacks, and no American personnel were harmed. That is the best part of this report: our sailors came through safely while Iran’s latest military stunt failed to land a punch. Tehran tried to make a statement, and instead got a very expensive lesson in cause and effect.
Three Iranian Tankers Were Hit
CENTCOM said U.S. forces permanently disabled the Iranian crude oil carriers M/T Downy off the coast of Kharg Island and M/T Stark 1 near Jask. A third vessel, the unladen crude oil carrier M/T Kylo, also known as the “Noxen,” was completely destroyed in the Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM said American forces struck that ship in multiple critical locations to make it inoperable after the crew was directed to abandon ship. In plain English, the ships did not just get a warning shot across the bow. They were taken out of service, which is rather hard to spin as a win for the mullahs.
The IRGC’s Shadow Fleet Takes a Hit
CENTCOM described the three crude oil tankers as part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies. That detail matters because this was not just about damaged metal floating in the water. It was about hitting the money pipeline that helps fuel Iran’s troublemaking across the region. CENTCOM also said Iran has no means by which to defend these tankers. That is a pretty awkward admission for a regime that loves to bark like a superpower while hiding behind proxy groups and oil shipments.
Admiral Cooper Sends a Direct Message
Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of CENTCOM, said the United States will not hesitate to defend American forces and, if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet. The source report also says this action followed President Trump reportedly approving a new “tanker for tanker” policy earlier in the week, with U.S. strikes on tankers coming after Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. If Iran’s leaders thought they could fire on U.S. warships and only receive stern letters from diplomats, CENTCOM’s footage appears to offer a different kind of paperwork.
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