Tehran says tanker was hit amid escalating conflict after joint U.S.–Israel attacks on Iranian territory.

Iran said Thursday that it had attacked a U.S. oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf as part of its counteroffensive following ongoing joint bombardments by the United States and Israel against Iranian territory.

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According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iranian naval forces struck the vessel early Thursday morning. The military body reported that the tanker was hit and is currently on fire.

The IRGC also reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz remains under Iranian control and warned that commercial vessels belonging to the United States, Israel, European countries or their allies are prohibited from transiting the waterway. The organization stated that any such ships attempting to cross would be attacked.

Tensions around the strategic maritime corridor have intensified following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, triggering a crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, a route through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes.

The escalation follows a joint military attack launched by Israel and the United States in the early hours of February 28, aimed at what they described as “eliminating threats” from the Iranian government.

Those strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several senior military officials.

In response, Iran launched several waves of ballistic missiles toward Israel and against U.S. bases located across the Middle East.

According to available reports, the number of people killed in Iran following the U.S. and Israeli military assault has surpassed 1,300.

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