Skip to Content Subscribe My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Modern Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Modern Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNewsWorldU.S. military says it destroyed three Iranian oil tankers after missile attacks'If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost — taking out three of yours,' U.S. commander Admiral Brad Cooper saidAuthor of the article:A woman crosses as motorists drive past an anti-U.S. billboard at Enghelab Square in Tehran on Sept. 2, 2026. Photo by Atta KENARE /AFP via Getty ImagesThe United States said it struck and destroyed three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday in response to attempted missile attacks on naval vessels, in the latest exchange of fire since renewed hostilities flared between the foes.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe new clashes, which began with U.S. raids last week, come with both sides deadlocked in the six-month war as Iran keeps a stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz and Washington presses its counter-blockade of Iranian ports.U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said it targeted tankers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), accusing the most powerful arm of the Iranian military of unsuccessfully firing at American warships.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again“Following Iran’s failed attacks, CENTCOM permanently disabled the IRGC crude oil carriers M/T Downy off the coast of Kharg Island and M/T Stark 1 near Jask,” it said in a statement.“American forces also completely destroyed the unladen crude oil carrier M/T Kylo … in the Gulf of Oman, striking the vessel in multiple critical locations to render it inoperable after the crew was directed to abandon ship.”Video posted by CENTCOM showed large fireballs and billowing flames after projectiles slammed into the ships.The three vessels were “part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies,” it said.In addition to its renewed military action, Washington is seeking to choke Iran’s economy, announcing sanctions on entities with financial links to the Islamic republic in a bid to further isolate it.After the strikes, CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said: “If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost — taking out three of yours.”Iranian media had reported several explosions earlier on Saturday near the country’s major oil hub of Kharg Island in the Gulf.On Thursday, Tehran had said that its armed forces attacked U.S. military bases in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, vowing to avenge civilian deaths at a wedding that it blamed on an American strike.U.S. Vice President JD Vance said the alleged wedding strike, which the Iranian Red Crescent said killed four people in a southern coastal town on Tuesday night, was being investigated but he himself was “sceptical” of the reports.The Trump administration has been seeking to play down the significance of the six-month conflict, which has proven increasingly unpopular at home as midterm elections near.Vance went so far as to say that he “wouldn’t call it a war,” claiming that “right now, there is no active shooting” despite the ongoing exchanges of fire.U.S. President Donald Trump backed his comments, calling the Iran war “small potatoes” for the U.S. and insisting: “It’s not a big thing.”Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei warned the U.S. this week that the Islamic republic had adopted a “new strategy” against Washington in the war that “will shatter your foundations.”The U.S. has been trying to step up pressure on Tehran over its blockade of the Hormuz Strait, through which one-fifth of world oil supplies previously flowed. A fragile ceasefire collapsed in July after attacks on commercial ships in the strategic waterway.Trump has in recent weeks repeatedly threatened to claim sovereignty over the strait, even posting a map showing it as a “new US territory.”Vance has also insisted that the U.S. would not reopen talks with Iran until it ended attacks on commercial shipping in the Hormuz.But with fuel prices threatening to cost Trump’s Republicans their control of Congress at the ballot box, his administration has begun pushing the message that oil flows through the waterway are now returning to pre-war levels.“Their control over the Strait of Hormuz is effectively gone,” Vance said of Iran on Thursday.Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.