US strikes Iranian oil tankers, Iran attacks US sea drone in retaliation
The US has hit three Iranian oil tankers, and Iran has retaliated by attacking a US sea drone, as the conflict enters its seventh month.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The United States and Iran have exchanged fresh blows in a conflict that has now entered its seventh month, with Washington striking three Iranian oil tankers and Tehran responding by attacking a US sea drone in the Strait of Hormuz. The latest escalation follows a period of relative calm that was shattered by a series of tit-for-tat attacks, including a US strike on a wedding party in southern Iran that killed five people, according to Iranian officials.
The US military said it had permanently disabled two tankers, including one near Kharg Island, Iran's main oil exporting terminal, and completely destroyed a third ship in the Gulf of Oman. Iranian state media confirmed the attacks and said Tehran had responded by attacking three US-affiliated vessels, claiming responsibility for strikes on oil tankers travelling along what it described as an unauthorised route through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for about a fifth of the world's oil, has been at the centre of the conflict since Iran began disrupting shipping in February. The US has been trying to prise open the strait, while Iran has used mines, drones and missiles to maintain its grip. The latest attacks come after a month-long lull in which the US had shifted its focus to economic pressure, unveiling what it called an "economic D-Day" of sanctions against Iran and its trading partners.
But the military option has returned to the fore. Over the weekend, US forces struck Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island, which Iran said were preparing to deploy sea mines. Iran retaliated by firing ballistic missiles at US bases in Jordan and other Gulf states. The US then launched a broader wave of strikes, which Iran said killed 18 people, including four at a wedding party in the city of Kuhestak. The Iranian Red Crescent described the wedding strike as a war crime, while the US military insisted it never targets civilians.
President Trump has threatened further attacks, saying the US is "prepared to do another one any time we want". He has also suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz the "Trump Strait", a move that has been widely dismissed as bluster. Vice President JD Vance has claimed that oil flows through the strait have almost returned to pre-war levels, but shipping data suggests traffic remains far below normal.
The conflict has taken a heavy toll on both sides. The US has depleted significant stocks of munitions, and there are reports of growing strain on the military. Iran's economy is suffering from inflation and sanctions, but the regime remains defiant. With no meaningful diplomacy under way, the risk of further escalation remains high.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One | BBC Two | Channel 4 | GB News | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iran launched missile and drone attacks on several countries and ships, including Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, a South Korean ship and a Saudi ship. | · | · | ||||||
| Iran's Revolutionary Guard attacked US military targets in Jordan with ballistic missiles. | · | · | ||||||
| Local officials in Sirik reported four people killed and dozens injured in explosions. | · | · | ||||||
| US forces carried out airstrikes on Iran for the first time in a month. | · | · | ||||||
| An American missile hit a family wedding ceremony in southern Iran, killing five people. | · | · | · | |||||
| The US Treasury Secretary said tough new sanctions on Iran would come into force next week. | · | · | · | |||||
| A 60-day diplomatic window for the US and Iran to negotiate an end to their war expires on Monday. | · | · | · | · | ||||
| Iran launched ballistic missile attacks on US targets in the Middle East. | · | · | · | · | ||||
| Iran was attempting to place sea mine launching missile launchers on an island near the Strait of Hormuz, which the US struck. | · | · | · | · | ||||
| President Trump threatened to bomb Oman if it obstructed a US peace deal with Iran. | · | · | · | · | ||||
| Russian overnight strikes killed at least 12 people in the Kyiv region, the sixth consecutive night of such attacks. | · | · | · | · | ||||
| The Iran deal is dead, with both sides saying so. | · | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC ONE West focused on the human cost of the renewed strikes, particularly the wedding party attack, and provided analysis from Jeremy Bowen on the strategic stalemate. It also reported the latest tanker strikes and Iran's retaliation.
- “Iran's Revolutionary Guard says its Navy's attacked a US sea drone in the Strait of Hormuz following through on its threat to retaliate if American forces strike Iranian ships.”
- “The US military says it doesn't target civilians, but Iran's foreign minister has called it a war crime.”
BBC News provided extensive coverage of the military escalation, including the wedding strike and the tanker attacks, and also highlighted the economic dimensions and the strain on US military resources. It included analysis from correspondents and experts.
- “Iran's military is threatening more retaliatory attacks if Washington continues to strike Iranian ships.”
- “The US military says it never targets civilians, unlike the IRGC.”
ITV1 focused on the renewed military exchanges and the political implications for President Trump, including the strain on US military resources and the impact on global oil prices. It also reported the wedding strike and the tanker attacks.
- “We hit them hard last night, very hard. They gave a little love tap, but we hit them very hard last night.”
- “This war is beginning to turn into a protracted quagmire for Donald Trump.”
Channel 4 provided detailed reporting on the wedding strike, the tanker attacks, and the broader economic and military context. It included interviews with experts and a report from Jonathan Rugman on the human cost in Iran.
- “Iran has accused the United States of a war crime after claiming a US strike hits a house where a wedding was taking place, killing four people including two children aged four and 16.”
- “The US military said today that it never targeted civilians unlike Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”
Sky News focused on the military analysis of the strikes, including the use of Fajr-5 rocket launchers and the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz. It also covered the wedding strike and the tanker attacks, with analysis from military experts.
- “The Americans have been striking a whole series of targets, IRGC targets, Revolutionary Guard targets, that are throughout the country.”
- “Neither side is in control of what they are doing. Both sides are retaliating against the last act.”
GB News aired an interview with President Trump, who defended the war and claimed the US had control of the Strait of Hormuz. The channel focused on Trump's perspective and his justification for the conflict.
- “We control the Hormuz Strait. We have great control over the Hormuz Strait. We're taking out 30, 40 boats a night.”
- “I stopped them from having a nuclear weapon. Because if I didn't do that, your people would call up and address them as, sir, sir, is there anything I can do for you, sir?”
5 News reported on the wedding strike and the broader escalation, focusing on the human cost and the risk of further conflict. It included a report from Natalia Hokkira.
- “Four people were killed two of them children More than 50 people were injured”
- “The wider conflict began in February when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran a ceasefire agreement followed in June But has since expired”
BBC TWO's Newsnight provided in-depth analysis of the military and political situation, including interviews with experts and a discussion of the economic sanctions and the possibility of escalation. It also featured a conversation with Chris Ruddy, a friend of Trump.
- “The United States is the stronger power, but they are not capable of Compelling Iran to do what they want.”
- “I think the president's already decided he's going to have to escalate because remember we offered them the member Memorandum of understanding we signed it.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.