The US military has said it struck five Iranian oil tankers on Tuesday.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it struck the ships "after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over the past two days."
"The US warship successfully evaded the attempted Iranian attacks and continued to patrol regional waters. No American personnel were harmed," it added.
CENTCOM said it directed the crews to abandon ship shortly before the strikes. There were no immediate reports regarding casualties.
Iranian media reported explosions were heard near the southern port of Jask and on Kharg Island — both key ports for the country's oil exports.
