Iran, U.S. clash in Gulf of Oman
Tehran and Washington trade blame after strikes
Iranian naval and missile units said they struck back after what Tehran described as an unprovoked US attack on an Iranian oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, reporting that enemy vessels in the Strait of Hormuz suffered direct hits and retreated in disarray. A senior Iranian military official told state media the response was “swift, precise and powerful,” and framed the strikes as defensive actions to protect territorial waters and vital maritime routes.
Tehran characterized the incident as part of a broader US operation it called “Project Freedom” and accused Washington of being the root cause of repeated provocations.
The US Central Command said its forces conducted “self-defense strikes” on Iranian military facilities—reporting that missile sites, command centers and surveillance nodes were targeted—and claimed no US assets had been struck. US media reported strikes on the ports of Qeshm and Bandar Abbas but cautioned this did not amount to a declaration of war.
Iranian statements accused US forces of firing on an Iranian-flagged tanker and labeled the action “piracy,” while CENTCOM framed its response as interception of Iranian attacks. The exchanges highlight rising regional tensions, as Tehran vows a decisive response to violations while the US defends its strikes as necessary.
