<p>U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that five Iranian crude oil carriers were destroyed on September 8, 2026, after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted a U.S. Navy warship with ballistic missiles on two occasions over two days.</p>
<p>CENTCOM stated, “In response to Iran’s most recent failed attacks, CENTCOM destroyed the IRGC crude oil carriers M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1, and M/T Riesco in the Gulf of Oman as well as M/T Derya near Kharg Island. American forces directed the crews to abandon ship before the vessels were struck and rendered inoperable.”</p>
<p>The U.S. warship successfully evaded the attempted Iranian attacks and continued to patrol regional waters without any American personnel being harmed.</p>
<p>Kharg Island, located in the Persian Gulf, is a central hub for oil exporting in Iran. It has been identified by former President Donald Trump as a potential target for future military operations.</p>
<p>Reports on the day of the strikes speculated that Kharg Island was directly hit, but CENTCOM clarified that the tankers were struck nearby the island and in other areas.</p>
<p>The strikes on September 8 are part of ongoing hostilities between the U.S. military and the IRGC, which have included previous strikes against three crude oil tankers, one of which was also near Kharg Island, in response to missile launches at U.S. Navy warships.</p>
<p>According to the Council on Foreign Relations, Kharg Island handles approximately 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports and has been a critical component of the Iranian economy for nearly seven decades.</p>
<p>Trump previously claimed that the U.S. military had attacked Kharg Island and damaged its infrastructure, stating, “I said, ‘Don’t touch the oil, because maybe we’ll take over Kharg Island.'”</p>
<p>A direct strike on Kharg Island could have significant implications for the global oil market, which has already experienced volatility due to ongoing military operations. The White House has maintained that the conflict in Iran will ultimately lead to lower energy costs.</p>
<p>Trump stated on social media, “Oil prices will drop precipitously, like everything else is dropping (but more!), when we WIN the war with Iran.”</p>