The United States said on Wednesday it destroyed five Iranian‑owned oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, while Tehran fired missile strikes at U.S.‑linked targets in Jordan and warned commercial vessels near Kuwait and Bahrain to evacuate.

US strikes on Iranian tankers

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that its aircraft launched precision strikes on the five tankers after crews were ordered to abandon ship. The tankers, flagged to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), were moored in international waters when the attacks began.

"All crew members were instructed to evacuate before the strikes," CENTCOM said, adding that no U.S. casualties were recorded. The United States did not disclose the exact locations of the tankers, but satellite imagery shows the vessels were near the Strait of Hormuz.

"The decisive action eliminates a direct threat to regional navigation," a CENTCOM spokesperson said.

Iran's retaliatory missile launches

In what it called a proportional response, Tehran launched a series of short‑range missiles at two U.S.‑linked installations in Jordan late on Tuesday. Jordanian officials confirmed that the sites, used for U.S. training exercises, suffered minor structural damage but no fatalities.

Iranian state media also issued a warning to merchant ships operating close to Kuwait and Bahrain, urging them to leave the area immediately. The warning came after the IRGC claimed it had fired missiles at a U.S. Navy destroyer twice within a 48‑hour span, prompting the U.S. retaliation.

Regional implications and next steps

The exchange marks the sharpest escalation between Washington and Tehran since the 2024 incident in which an Iranian drone struck a U.S. carrier in the Arabian Sea. Both sides have accused each other of violating international law and endangering global oil supplies.

Jordan’s defence ministry condemned the attacks as "unacceptable aggression" and called for an emergency meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council to discuss collective security measures. Meanwhile, the United Nations’ maritime safety agency urged commercial vessels to follow the latest advisories and avoid the contested waters.

Analysts note that the destruction of the tankers could tighten the already‑tight flow of crude through the Strait of Hormuz, potentially nudging oil prices higher. The United States has signalled it will maintain a naval presence in the region, while Iran has hinted at further strikes if U.S. forces continue to operate near its assets.

Diplomatic channels remain open, with senior officials from both capitals reportedly in contact through back‑channel communications. The coming days will likely see heightened alerts across the Gulf and increased scrutiny of any further military movements.