Rubio says US will sink Iranian tankers in response to attacks

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would sink Iranian tankers in response to attacks by Iran.

Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing foreign media.

“Iran continues to attempt to strike US Navy ships. Every time they do that, or try to do that, they lose one of their tankers,” Rubio said.

Further reciprocal strikes between Iran and the United States were reported after the statement. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said ballistic missiles had been launched at a US military base in Jordan and that 10 vessels had been sunk. The United States, meanwhile, said five Iranian oil tankers had been sunk.

The statements from both sides indicate that tensions in the region are continuing to rise. The Strait of Hormuz and nearby waters are among the world’s most important routes for oil shipments, making any military confrontation involving commercial vessels a potential threat to regional energy security and maritime traffic.