Retaliation: Iran strikes US oil tanker in Persian Gulf
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Tehran: As tensions between Iran and the United States escalate to new levels, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have attacked a US oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf. The ship was caught on fire after the attack, Iranian state media reported. There was no immediate word on the extent of damage to the ship or any casualties in Thursday's attack.
Iran's retaliation comes hours after an Iranian warship was attacked in the Indian Ocean. A US submarine torpedoed the Iranian warship Iris Deena off the southern coast of Sri Lanka. This was the first time the US had torpedoed an enemy ship since World War II. Following this, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the US would "bitterly regret" the action.
The Iranian ship was returning from the ‘Milan’ international naval exercise held in Visakhapatnam from February 18 to 25. Iran pointed out that the ship, which was a guest of the Indian Navy, was attacked without warning. There were about 130 sailors on board. Reports indicate that more than 80 were killed in the American attack. About 30 Iranian sailors were rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy. They were admitted to a hospital in the southern port city of Galle for treatment.
The conflict, which was confined to the Gulf region, has now spread to the Indian Ocean and areas adjacent to India. In the past few days, the United States has carried out powerful attacks on Iranian naval facilities.
Reports indicate that over a thousand people have already been killed in the conflict in Iran and six American soldiers have lost their lives in the counter-attack. The US has also attacked Iranian container ships that were modified to launch drones. The conflict between Iran and the US is causing great concern globally.