The U.S. and Iran Engage in Tanker Attack Warfare, Foreign Media: "Backing Down" is Not an Option for Either Side

[Global Times Special Correspondent Wang Yi, Global Times Correspondent in the U.S. Li Zhi] There are no signs of easing in the military conflict between the U.S. and Iran. On the 5th and 6th, both militaries carried out military strikes against each other. The U.S. claimed to have "destroyed" three Iranian oil tankers, while Iran claimed to have struck three tankers associated with the U.S. and repelled U.S. aircraft carriers and destroyers. The BBC reported that this was the latest round of attacks since the conflict erupted a week ago. George Washington University scholar Azodi told Al Jazeera that the U.S. military's strikes on Iranian tankers and Iran's ballistic missile attacks on U.S. warships mark an escalation in this conflict, which has lasted for more than six months, and that "retreat" is not an option for either side.

Iran: Attack on U.S. Aircraft Carrier

According to a report from Iran's Tasnim News Agency on the 6th, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran stated that it had launched multiple ballistic missiles targeting a U.S. aircraft carrier and a destroyer, forcing the two U.S. warships to withdraw from the conflict area after sustaining damage. The targeted U.S. warships were involved in maritime blockade operations against Iran and interfered with Iranian vessels. In another statement on the 6th, the IRGC claimed to have struck a U.S. naval drone that attempted to enter Iran's "protected area" in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Speaker of the Iranian Islamic Consultative Assembly, Ghalibaf, stated in a parliamentary speech on the 6th that "the Americans must have understood that the era of 'reciprocal response' is over," and that any infringement on Iran's interests and security would be met with a quicker and more severe response.

Russian news agency Sputnik cited Iranian media reports stating that the IRGC Navy Commander Azmaei indicated that the IRGC Navy had struck three tankers associated with the U.S. in the Strait of Hormuz because these tankers passed through the strait without permission.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the U.S. for its aggressive and illegal attacks on Iranian merchant ships in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman on the evening of the 5th. According to Iran's Mehr News Agency, the Foreign Ministry stated in a statement that these illegal and aggressive actions by the U.S. blatantly violate the United Nations Charter, constitute war crimes, and pose a clear threat to international peace and the safety of maritime navigation.

U.S.: "Destroying" 3 Iranian Oil Tankers

According to a report from NBC on the 6th, the U.S. Central Command stated in a statement on the 5th that after Iran launched ballistic missiles at two U.S. Navy vessels, the U.S. attacked three Iranian oil tankers that day, two of which were "permanently incapacitated." U.S. Central Command Commander Cooper warned Iran on the 5th, saying, "If you fire at our two ships, we will make you pay a higher economic price—by destroying your three ships."

The BBC mentioned on the 6th that just hours before news of Iran's latest retaliatory actions broke, U.S. Secretary of Defense Hegseth wrote on social media: "It's simple: if Iran fires at U.S. ships, we will sink their tankers." The Maldives' "Gaafu" website reported on the 5th that the U.S. strikes on Iranian tankers marked an escalation of the conflict from conventional military targets to Iran's oil export infrastructure and maritime economy.

U.S. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Crawford stated on the 5th that the U.S. strikes on the three Iranian tankers reinforced the U.S. government's economic pressure campaign against Iran. According to Al Jazeera on the 5th, U.S. President Trump stated at the White House on the 4th that the U.S. military "may soon" strike the Mahsa facility in Iran, saying, "Once things go wrong, we will strike them." This was just the latest in a series of threats he issued regarding that underground nuclear facility. Analysts suggest that a U.S. strike on Mahsa would represent a significant new phase in the conflict.

Neither Side Will "Retreat"

Reports indicate that this confrontation, which initially focused mainly on military and nuclear targets, is increasingly affecting oil infrastructure, commercial shipping, arms stockpiles, and regional security. As neither side has shown signs of abandoning its core objectives, the tanker attacks may prove to be another significant escalation in this conflict, with consequences increasingly evident across the broader Middle East.

Azodi told Al Jazeera on the 6th that neither side will "retreat," as retreating "would be a loss of face for them, so the only option is to escalate the conflict." He stated that unless a political solution is reached, he believes this conflict will continue.

Azodi noted that both the U.S. and Iran aim to force the other to back down, and "the ultimate winner will be the one who can endure more costs and penalties."