A US official told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday that CENTCOM is currently striking Iranian oil tankers, as Iranian media outlets reported explosions near Kharg Island.
According to Iran‘s Mehr News Agency, there were explosions heard in the vicinity of the Iranian oil hub, which serves as the country’s main point for refining and exporting oil.
An additional report by semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that the attacks on the Iranian vessels left no casualties, with the tripulation aboard being evacuated.
The report, citing local sources, also said the targeted vessel was about four miles from Kharg Island.
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters (the central command of the Iranian Army) warned the US that if its vessels were struck, then it would reply with strikes against American interests in the Middle East, Reuters reported, citing Iran’s state media.
The American attack happened days after Mohsen Rezaei, the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said that a restricted zone was planned to be announced outside the Strait of Hormuz soon.
The Sunday announcement, reported by state media, detailed that the zone would include areas in the Gulf.
Rezaei added that maps of ships’ passage in the Strait of Hormuz, agreed upon with Oman, would also be signed in the coming days.
Reuters contributed to this report.
This is a developing story.