• The US struck Iranian tankers in response to missile attacks on Navy vessels.
• Strikes occurred near Kharg Island and the southern port of Jask in the Persian Gulf.
• Iran has threatened to retaliate against vessels near Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports.
• The US also imposed new sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector.
• Brent crude prices briefly surged amid the escalating tensions.

The US military launched strikes on multiple Iranian tankers in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday, targeting vessels linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in response to missile threats against American Naval forces. The strikes occurred near the southern port of Jask and Kharg Island, as tensions have escalated after more than six months of conflict between Washington and Tehran, according to SCMP and India Times.

Reports from Iranian state television confirm that US forces attacked tankers near Jask, and according to an Iranian state TV reporter, crew members were safely evacuated via lifeboats following the strikes. Additional details revealed that US forces had previously targeted three Iranian oil tankers after missile attacks aimed at US Navy ships, highlighting the growing confrontation in the region, as noted by Los Angeles Times and SCMP.

In retaliation for these strikes, Iran's Revolutionary Guard has warned crews of oil tankers near Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports to abandon their vessels, indicating that these ships might be targeted due to US military actions. Furthermore, Iranian officials plan to establish an exclusion zone in the Strait of Hormuz to control maritime traffic, emphasizing the strategic importance of this waterway where a significant portion of the world’s oil passes, according to India Times and Los Angeles Times.

The escalating military engagements are paralleled by economic measures from the US government, which recently imposed sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector, aimed at crippling Tehran’s remaining trade. These sanctions extend to more than two dozen airlines and cargo service providers, adding further strain to Iran's economy amid rising oil prices, which have climbed due to this geopolitical turmoil, as reported by Los Angeles Times and India Times.