'Tanker for tanker': Trump's new retaliation policy behind US strikes on Iran

The US military struck two Iranian government tankers during a fresh round of strikes on Tuesday, marking the first time American forces have hit Iranian tankers in retaliation for attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, rather than to prevent violations of the naval blockade, US officials said, according to Axios.

New 'tanker for tanker' policy

The strikes were carried out under a new "tanker for tanker" policy approved by President Donald Trump aimed at deterring further Iranian attacks on tankers moving through the strait, a US official told Axios.


Also read: Iran says it killed ‘large number’ of US forces in Jordan; America says no casualties

The two Iranian government tankers, anchored off Iran's coast north of the US naval blockade line, were hit in their engine rooms by missiles launched from US drones, officials said.

Around 100 targets hit on Tuesday

US officials said approximately 100 targets were struck in Tuesday's operation. Besides the tankers, the targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) air defence sites, radar systems, mine-laying capabilities, communications sites, anti-ship cruise missile launchers and attack drone launchers.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes targeted IRGC positions in response to what it described as recent attempted attacks by the IRGC on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and on American service members in the region. CENTCOM said the strikes began at 12 pm ET (9:30 pm IST).

One US official told Axios the strikes were also intended to prevent Iran from rebuilding radar and missile capabilities used to threaten ships crossing the strait, describing the goal as reducing risk to oil tankers, US Navy vessels and Air Force aircraft. Axios had reported the plan on Monday. A US official said the strikes degraded Iran's attack capabilities in the strait and had "bought at least a month" of lowered threat levels for commercial shipping.

Iran's retaliation falls short, officials say

According to US officials, Iran's retaliation failed to cause significant damage. Iran fired around 25 ballistic missiles, of which only about half reached Jordanian airspace; ten were intercepted and three landed without causing casualties, officials said.

Iran also launched roughly two dozen drones at US bases in Bahrain, most of which were intercepted, a US official said. Ballistic missiles and drones were also fired at US bases in Kuwait, while two drones targeting a US base in Erbil, in Iraq's Kurdistan region, were intercepted.

Separately, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had carried out missile and drone attacks on US bases in Erbil, according to Iranian state media. Jordan's armed forces said their air-defence systems intercepted and destroyed 10 of 13 ballistic missiles that entered the kingdom's airspace, with three falling in remote areas. Bahrain said its air-defence systems had intercepted and destroyed Iranian drones over the kingdom.

Shipping continued through strait, US says

A US official said around 40 ships transited the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday carrying millions of barrels of oil, even as the exchange of fire continued. US forces intercepted several anti-ship cruise missiles and drones fired by the IRGC toward these ships, none of which were hit, the official said.

Also read: Trump says US launches ‘large and powerful’ strikes on Iranian targets near Strait of Hormuz

"The Iranians have not only lost control of the Strait of Hormuz, they have also lost control over the conflict. They got nothing today," a US official told Axios.

Dispute over civilian casualty claim

Iranian state media reported that a US strike hit a wedding ceremony in the town of Kuhestak, killing at least four people and wounding at least 35. CENTCOM spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins disputed the claim, saying, "We're aware of the reports, which originated from Iranian state media. The US military never targets civilians, unlike the IRGC."

Trump warns of harsher response if Iran retaliates

President Trump on Tuesday said the United States was carrying out strikes on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, warning of a stronger military response if Iran retaliated.

"The United States is, as we speak, striking Iranian Targets near the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes are large and powerful, and in retaliation for the Iranians' failed attempt at adding sea mines to the Strait, which currently has no mines (They have been completely removed or detonated!), and the Iranians shooting eight missiles, all successfully knocked down, at our Military Base in Jordan. If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, but it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings and, when it is over, there will be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran! President DONALD J. TRUMP," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Trump said the strikes were in response to what he described as an Iranian attempt to place sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz and the launch of eight missiles at a US military base in Jordan.

President Trump on Wednesday also dismissed the prospect of a meaningful agreement with Iran, writing on Truth Social that he was not trying to force Tehran to the table and that he preferred the current position of "almost total control" over the Strait of Hormuz. He had earlier told Fox News that Iran had been given "a lot of chances" and that any agreement "isn't worth the paper it's written on."