A still from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) footage showing four of the five Iranian tankers targeted on 8 September: M/T Derya, M/T Horizon 1, M/T Kaviz and M/T Charminar.

CENTCOM says five more Iranian crude carriers have been put out of action after Iran twice targeted a U.S. Navy warship with ballistic missiles.

The following report is based on a public release issued by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on 8 September 2026.

U.S. Central Command says American forces have struck five Iranian crude oil carriers following two attempted ballistic-missile attacks against a U.S. Navy warship.

According to CENTCOM, the American warship successfully evaded both attacks and continued operating in regional waters. No U.S. personnel were injured.

CENTCOM said the strikes targeted the M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1 and M/T Riesco in the Gulf of Oman, along with the M/T Derya near Iran's Kharg Island.

American forces instructed the crews to abandon the vessels before the strikes were carried out. CENTCOM said all five tankers were subsequently rendered inoperable.

The U.S. military alleges the vessels formed part of a multibillion-dollar Iranian oil network used to finance the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and groups aligned with it across the region.

The latest action follows U.S. strikes on three Iranian crude carriers on 5 September, after CENTCOM said the IRGC attempted to attack a U.S. aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer.

The two operations bring the number of Iranian crude carriers targeted by CENTCOM since 5 September to eight.

Editor's Note: TheZeal previously examined the significance of the first three tanker strikes and Washington's increasing pressure on Iran's oil-export network in US Targets Iran's Oil Lifeline.

Source: U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM), Public Release, 8 September 2026.