Pete Hegseth warns Iran, says US will sink oil tankers if Navy is attacked
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned that the US will sink Iranian oil tankers if Iranian forces attack American Navy ships. This follows reports of ballistic missile strikes by Iran on US vessels and subsequent US retaliatory strikes on Iranian oil infrastructure.
Why it matters
The escalation between the US and Iran in the Persian Gulf poses a significant risk to global oil supplies and regional stability.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned Iran that the US will destroy and sink Iranian oil tankers if Tehran attacks US Navy ships, saying, “All they have to do is not shoot at” the US Navy, as tensions between Washington and Tehran intensified across the region.Meanwhile, Iran's IRGC said it attacked a US aircraft carrier and destroyer with ballistic missiles, but there was no immediate confirmation from the US.Hegseth issued the warning in a post on X while quoting US Central Command commander Admiral Brad Cooper, who said Iran would face a higher economic cost if it attacked American vessels. Pete Hegseth on X“It’s simple: if Iran shoots at US ships, we will destroy (and sink) their oil tankers.
Also covering this story
19 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
U.S. military says it destroyed three Iranian oil tankers
US military hits Iranian oil tankers, saying Navy warships were targeted with missiles
Iran targets US ships, oil tankers in retaliation for US strikes, IRGC claims
US Strikes 3 Iranian Oil Tankers After Tehran Targeted Its Navy Warships
US military hits 3 Iranian oil tankers after saying Navy warships were targeted
US military strikes oil tankers as Iran vows tougher reprisals
US CENTCOM says it struck three Iran oil tankers after IRGC attacks on Navy ships
US hits Iranian tankers after Navy ships targeted
Watch: US strikes 3 Iranian oil tankers after Iran targets 2 navy warships
US hits three Iranian oil tankers after saying its warships were targeted
US hits three Iranian oil tankers after saying its warships were targeted
U.S. attacks 3 Iranian oil tankers after missiles target Navy warships
US hits Iranian oil tankers, and other key Mideast developments
Iranian foreign ministry condemns US strikes on oil tankers
Iran: US hits 3 IRGC-linked oil tankers
Iran targets Navy warships and US retaliates with 'higher economic cost' in new escalation phase
US forces target 3 Iranian oil tankers in response to IRGC missile attack
Middle-East Conflict: US Strikes Three Iranian Oil Tankers As Iran Targets American Warships
US military says it struck three Iranian tankers after American warships came under missile attack
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in