US missile strikes Iranian oil tanker near Kharg Island
TEHRAN/WASHINGTON: A US missile struck an Iranian oil tanker near the strategically important Kharg Island on Saturday, Iranian media reported, as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to escalate.
Iran’s Student News Agency (ISNA) reported that the vessel was a “small vessel” and said there were no casualties in the incident.
Kharg Island is a key hub of Iran’s oil export infrastructure and handles an estimated 90 to 95 per cent of the country’s crude oil exports, making the area strategically significant for Tehran’s economy.
US President Donald Trump had previously threatened to take control of the island, further raising concerns over the security of Iran’s vital energy infrastructure.
Regional tensions have intensified since US and Israeli attacks on Iran began on February 28. Tehran has responded with missile and drone strikes targeting Israel as well as US military interests and facilities across the region.
Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18 regarding freedom of navigation through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. However, implementation of the agreement has reportedly stalled amid disagreements over security arrangements in and around the waterway.
US investigates military leaks, conducts polygraph tests
Meanwhile, the US military has subjected dozens of senior military officers and civilian officials to polygraph tests as part of an investigation into classified information leaks concerning American weapons stocks, according to US media reports.
Around 50 military officers and civilian officials were reportedly tested in August as investigators examined disclosures about shortages of long-range missiles and Patriot air-defence interceptors linked to the war with Iran, The New York Times reported.
CBS News reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was not involved in the polygraph examinations and that the military conducted the investigation through its own internal investigators.
The sweep did not include every senior military leader. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Dan Caine was reportedly excluded from the examinations.
According to CBS, none of the officials subjected to the tests failed questions aimed at determining whether they had leaked information to the media.
Investigators were also reportedly examining the possibility that someone with access to highly restricted information about US munitions could be working as a foreign agent.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell declined to comment specifically on the investigation, saying the department does not discuss internal personnel or investigative matters. However, he stressed that classified leaks are taken “extremely seriously” and are investigated accordingly.
Trump has reportedly expressed anger over the unauthorised disclosures. The US president has rejected reports of strategic weapons shortages, claiming that the US military possesses “massive amounts” of weaponry.
Trump has described the reports as “treasonous statements” and “fake news” and warned that those responsible for leaking classified information would be pursued and could face lengthy prison sentences.
The investigation followed other unauthorised disclosures, including a leaked section of the Secretary of Defence Orders Book. The document reportedly showed six four-star military leaders expressing dissent over the continuation of large-scale military operations against Iran.
The officers reportedly warned that the war was “unsustainable” and could undermine US military readiness around the world.
Parnell described the leak as a “crime” and “a betrayal of the force”, while also disputing parts of the media coverage surrounding the document.
US lawmaker challenges Trump administration’s Iran claims
Separately, Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu has questioned the Trump administration’s portrayal of Iran as a “failed state”, pointing to Tehran’s continued ability to launch missiles and drones against US bases and American allies in the region.
Speaking to US broadcaster MS NOW, Lieu questioned how Iran could be described as a failed state while continuing to conduct military operations.
He also raised concerns over the economic impact of the conflict, citing the average US gasoline price of $4.12 per gallon.
“The White House is clearly not telling the truth,” Lieu said, calling on the administration to provide the American public with a clearer explanation of the war and its objectives.
He questioned how Washington intended to bring the conflict to an end rather than continuing an open-ended cycle of missile and drone strikes.
Meanwhile, Axios reported that the Trump administration is drafting a post-war strategy for the Middle East.
The plan is reportedly still in its early stages and is intended to provide a framework for US policy in the region once the war with Iran comes to an end.