Washington denies two oil tankers were hit by mines in Hormuz and rejects the account circulated by Iran
US Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced the end of the latest phase of a new wave of strikes against Iran, following seven consecutive nights of military operations targeting facilities linked to Tehran’s defensive and logistical capabilities.
US forces concluded the strike campaign on Friday, July 17, at 9:30 PM (local time), according to a statement released by CENTCOM on social media, which detailed that targets deemed strategic by Washington were hit during this final day of operations.
The targets included “surveillance centers, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons depots, and maritime capabilities,” according to the statement issued by the US military command.
To carry out these operations, the US military utilized a combination of air and naval assets—including fighter jets, drones, and warships—alongside other military resources deployed in the region.
CENTCOM affirmed that it would continue its mission under the orders of US President Donald Trump and reiterated that it would maintain pressure on Tehran. In this regard, the command noted that it continues to “fully enforce a naval blockade against Iranian ports.”
“More than 50,000 US troops are deployed across the Middle East and remain vigilant, lethal, and ready,” the military command stated, asserting that its forces maintain the operational capacity to respond to any contingency. US DENIES ATTACK ON TWO OIL TANKERS IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ
Earlier, CENTCOM dismissed reports circulated by Iran regarding the alleged explosion of two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and denied that the incidents were caused by naval mines, as claimed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
The US military thus refuted the account given by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which had reported that two tankers suffered explosions while navigating this strategic waterway used for the international transport of hydrocarbons.
“Like most statements from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, this is false,” CENTCOM stated in a brief release, dismissing the accusations made by Iranian authorities.
The Revolutionary Guard had previously indicated that both tankers experienced explosions and caught fire while passing through the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz. According to their account, the vessels may have struck mines placed in the area.
Meanwhile, Iranian engineering units had warned of high risk levels in the area, describing the maritime passage as “extremely dangerous and completely closed at this time.”
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the most important maritime corridors for global energy trade. A significant portion of the global oil supply passes through its waters; consequently, any incident in this area sparks international concern regarding potential repercussions for maritime security and energy markets.
