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An Iranian oil tanker near Kharg Island was struck by U.S. missiles Saturday, Iranian media reported, with one outlet saying the vessel was hit four times and was being evacuated.
Iran’s Student News Agency reported that a U.S. missile struck what it described as a “small vessel” near Kharg Island and said no casualties had been reported.
Iranian outlet Khabar Fouri later reported that the tanker was struck by four U.S. missiles and was being evacuated.
Fars news agency separately reported that several explosions were heard near Kharg Island, although its correspondent saw no visible smoke.
U.S. and Iranian officials had not commented on the reported strike as of press time.
Kharg Island is a critical part of Iran’s oil export infrastructure, handling roughly 90% to 95% of the country’s crude exports.
U.S. President Donald Trump has previously threatened to take control of the island.
Regional tensions have escalated since U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran began Feb. 28, with Tehran responding with missile and drone strikes against Israel and U.S. interests across the region.
Fighting resumed last Sunday with renewed U.S. attacks on Iran as the conflict passed the six-month mark, prompting further Iranian retaliatory strikes against U.S. targets in the Middle East.
Iran said Thursday that its armed forces had struck U.S. military bases in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, while vowing to avenge civilian deaths at a wedding that Tehran blamed on Washington.
Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18 concerning freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, but implementation has stalled amid disagreements over security arrangements in the waterway.
The two sides remain locked in a struggle over control of the strategic strait, with Iran blocking ship traffic while Washington maintains a counter-blockade of Iranian ports.
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