The U.S. Has a New Strategy To Target Iranian Oil: ‘Tanker For Tanker’

The U.S. military has a new strategy to target Iranian oil as hostilities between the countries flare up again: targeting tankers.

U.S. forces struck two Iranian tankers on Tuesday, with an official telling Axios that the decision is part of a new "tanker for tanker" strategy that has been approved by President Donald Trump.

The outlet went on to note that the vessels in question were anchored off Iran's coast and north of the blockade that U.S. forces have been imposing. They were part of the about 100 targets hit on Tuesday, which also included air defense sites, radar systems and mine-laying capabilities.

President Donald Trump said on social media that the attacks were taking place, saying they are "in retaliation for the Iranians' failed attempt at adding sea mines to the Strait, which currently has no mines (They have been completely removed or detonated!), and the Iranians shooting eight missiles, all successfully knocked down, at our Military Base in Jordan."

"If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, but it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings and, when it is over, there will be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran!" Trump then warned.

Iran, however, retaliated hours later. Forces the IRGC said they would "tighten the lock" on the Strait of Hormuz.

"Hours ago, in indiscriminate attacks born of desperation, the invading US military bombed several locations along Iran's southern coast, including several civilian sites," reads a passage of the statement. "The IRGC's fighters have begun a response that will make the aggressors regret their actions," it added.

However, U.S. forces said the attack failed as about half of the 25 ballistic missiles launched managed to reach Jordanian airspace. Ten of those were intercepted and three hit the ground without causing casualties. Tehran also launched dozens of drones at Bahrain and Kuwait, but most were intercepted.

"The Iranians have not only lost control of the Strait of Hormuz, they have also lost control over the conflict. They got nothing today," a U.S. official told the outlet.