US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has issued a fresh warning to oil tanker crews near Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports, urging them to immediately leave their vessels following reported US attacks on Iranian oil tankers.
The warning, carried by Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, raises the risk of another major escalation in the Gulf as tensions between Iran and the United States continue to intensify around energy infrastructure and maritime shipping.
IRGC Warns Tanker Crews Near Kuwait, Bahrain
According to the IRGC message reported by IRIB, crews aboard oil tankers located near Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports have been told to leave their vessels immediately.
The warning reportedly applies to tankers that are either anchored offshore or docked at ports. The IRGC said the warning was linked to recent US attacks on Iranian oil tankers.
The statement signals that commercial shipping could face increasing risks as the conflict expands beyond the Strait of Hormuz.
Why is Iran Threatening Oil Tankers?
The latest warning comes after a series of maritime confrontations between the United States and Iran.
The US has recently targeted Iranian oil tankers, while Iran has threatened retaliation against American interests and energy infrastructure in the Gulf. Reuters reported that Iran had warned that Gulf energy infrastructure, including US oil and gas interests, could become targets following further American attacks.
The IRGC’s latest message appears to extend that threat to commercial vessels operating near Gulf ports.
Are Tankers in Kuwait and Bahrain Being Attacked?
At this stage, the IRGC warning does not by itself confirm that tanker attacks have occurred at Kuwaiti or Bahraini ports.
Instead, the message is a threat directed at crews and vessels in the vicinity of those ports. Details about which individual tankers may be affected, or whether any ships have already been targeted following the warning, were not immediately independently confirmed.
Why Are Kuwait and Bahrain Important?
Kuwait and Bahrain are strategically important locations in the Persian Gulf.
Bahrain hosts the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, making the country a significant part of the US military presence in the region. Kuwait is also an important logistics and energy hub and hosts US military forces.
Any attack on commercial shipping near either country could therefore carry wider military and economic consequences.
Strait of Hormuz Crisis Adds to Shipping Risks
The warning comes as maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has already slowed sharply because of the escalating US-Iran confrontation.
According to Kpler data cited by Reuters, only seven commodity vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, compared with eight the previous day. Iran has also threatened retaliation against US energy interests in the Gulf.
The slowdown is raising concerns about global oil supplies because Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Oil Prices Near $100 as Gulf Tensions Rise
The growing threats to tankers and energy infrastructure have pushed crude prices sharply higher.
Brent crude recently climbed toward $100 per barrel, with Reuters reporting Brent at $98.63 on Tuesday amid concerns over disruptions to Saudi energy facilities and shipping routes.
Further attacks on tankers could put additional pressure on oil supplies and increase fuel prices globally.
US-Iran Maritime Conflict Escalates
The latest IRGC warning follows a series of military confrontations at sea.
The United States has struck Iranian oil tankers, while Iran has claimed missile attacks against US warships. The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran launched another wave of attacks targeting US Navy ships, although no American vessel was reported hit.
Iran has also threatened wider retaliation if Washington continues attacking Iranian assets.
Could Gulf Shipping Face More Disruption?
The latest warning has renewed fears that commercial shipping could become increasingly caught up in the US-Iran conflict.
If vessels avoid Kuwaiti, Bahraini, or other Gulf ports because of security threats, the disruption could further reduce regional energy exports and raise insurance and transportation costs.
The situation is particularly concerning because shipping through Hormuz is already under pressure.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: What Happens Next?
The key question now is whether the IRGC warning remains a deterrent or is followed by attacks on commercial vessels.
Shipping companies, tanker operators and Gulf governments are likely to closely monitor developments around Kuwait, Bahrain and the Strait of Hormuz. Any confirmed attack on a commercial tanker could trigger another sharp escalation in the conflict and send oil prices even higher.
For now, the IRGC warning represents a significant new threat to maritime security, but individual tanker attacks following the warning have not been independently confirmed.
