TEHRAN
\nThe escalating US-Iran conflict took a dramatic turn in the Persian Gulf on March 5, 2026, as Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have struck a US-flagged oil tanker in the northern Gulf, setting it ablaze with missiles.
\nThe IRGC asserted that the vessel was targeted amid ongoing maritime confrontations, reiterating Iran\u2019s \u201ccomplete control\u201d over the Strait of Hormuz\u2014a vital chokepoint through which about one-fifth of global oil transits. Iranian state media reported the tanker burning, warning that passage remains under Tehran\u2019s wartime authority, with threats to attack non-compliant ships.
\nThis follows claims of hitting multiple tankers (over 10 in some reports) and declaring the strait effectively closed, paralyzing commercial traffic for days and spiking oil prices. In response to the broader crisis sparked by US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth urged Israel to \u201cpress on until the end\u201d during talks with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz. Hegseth emphasized unwavering US support, stating the joint campaign is \u201cjust getting started\u201d and aimed at destroying Iran\u2019s missile and naval capabilities without nation-building. He highlighted accelerating US force deployments and air superiority gains.
\nSeparately, Tehran denied launching a ballistic missile toward T\u00fcrkiye after Turkey\u2019s defense ministry reported NATO systems intercepting one over the Mediterranean, having crossed Iraq and Syria. Iran called the allegation baseless, respecting Turkish sovereignty.The incidents heighten fears of wider regional war, disrupting energy flows and drawing in NATO allies amid mounting casualties and economic fallout. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TEHRAN The escalating US-Iran conflict took a dramatic turn in the Persian Gulf on March 5, 2026, as Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have struck a US-flagged oil tanker in the northern Gulf, setting it ablaze with missiles. The IRGC asserted that the vessel was targeted amid ongoing maritime confrontations, reiterating Iran\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":535062,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-535044","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n