Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Thursday that it had targeted three American ships and three oil tankers traversing unauthorized routes in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran's Fars News Agency. The naval commander stated in a declaration that the strikes were a direct response to an earlier attack by US forces on Iranian tankers the same day.

The IRGC issued a stern warning to all vessels near the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, cautioning them not to be "deceived by US forces" and to steer clear of any "suspicious activities" on unauthorized routes, or they would face similar strikes. As of the time of reporting, US officials had not yet responded to these allegations.

In a separate statement, the US Central Command claimed it had "destroyed" three Iranian oil tankers on Thursday as a retaliatory measure against the IRGC's assault on two American naval vessels that were patrolling in regional waters.