Iranian army strikes US tanker in the northern Gulf

Published March 5th, 2026 - 07:40 GMT
US tanker
Black smoke coming out from the Panamanian-registered crude oil tanker, MT New Diamond, some 60 kilometres (38 miles) off Sri Lanka's eastern coast where it reported a fire inside the engine room. Photo by - / SRI LANKAN AIR FORCE / AFP

ALBAWABA - Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) claims it has struck an American tanker in the northern part of the Persian Gulf.

According to the IRGC, fire engulfed the U.S. tanker after it was attacked, Iran's state media reported Thursday.

Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz following an escalation between the Persian country and the US and Israel following a preemptive attack on Tehran.