Iran Says It Destroyed US Tanker After Warship Attack

• Iran says it destroyed US tanker in Persian Gulf.
• Iran retaliates after attack on its warship.
• Iran US tensions rise after tanker explosion.

Tensions between Iran and the United States have intensified after Iran claimed it destroyed an American tanker in the northern Persian Gulf. The announcement was made by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps which described the strike as a direct response to an earlier attack on an Iranian naval vessel.

According to Iranian officials the action came within twenty four hours of the reported destruction of an Iranian warship. Tehran said the vessel had been targeted by a United States submarine using a torpedo while it was travelling through international waters.

Iranian media reported that the American tanker caught fire after the strike and was seen burning in the Persian Gulf. However the number of casualties and the extent of the damage have not yet been officially confirmed.

The Iranian government described the operation as a retaliatory move. Officials said the attack was carried out to respond to what they called an aggressive strike against their naval forces.

Earlier reports suggested that the Iranian warship was returning to its home waters after taking part in naval exercises near Visakhapatnam in India. The vessel had reportedly visited the region for joint maritime activities before heading back toward Iran.

During the journey the warship was allegedly attacked near waters close to Sri Lanka. Iranian sources claimed that the sudden explosion caused heavy casualties among the crew.

Iran said that eighty seven of its military personnel were killed in the incident while several others were reported missing. The government had earlier vowed to respond strongly to the attack and promised retaliation.

In the aftermath of the tanker strike Iran warned that it would continue to target American positions in the region if hostilities continued. Iranian leaders have repeatedly said that United States military presence in the Middle East could face further attacks if tensions escalate.

The latest development has raised concerns about growing instability in the region. Observers say the situation could further escalate if both sides continue retaliatory strikes in the coming days.