Iran has responded publicly to Saturday's US strikes on three Iranian oil tankers. A spokesperson for Iran's joint military command warned that strikes against US military ships would be "more severe" if Washington continues to interfere with Iranian shipping, according to the state broadcaster [1]. That is Tehran's first attributed reaction in these reports to CENTCOM's operation, which Adm. Brad Cooper framed with a threat to "if necessary, destroy Iran's limited and exposed oil fleet."

Iran's state broadcaster also reported the two tankers struck beyond Kharg Island — one near Jask, east of the strait, and an unladen vessel in the Gulf of Oman — saying their crews had evacuated [1]. That is Iranian-side confirmation of the attacks CENTCOM announced, though the two sides' accounts of why they happened still diverge: CENTCOM says a US aircraft carrier and a destroyer evaded "multiple unprovoked Iranian attacks" with no US personnel hurt, and it was not clear when the missiles were fired [1].

On the civilian-casualty question CENTCOM says it is still examining, AP has now reached survivors. Masoumeh Zarei, 13, and Kiana Karimi, 14, were being treated at a hospital in Minab after Tuesday's strike in Kuhestak; Karimi was in intensive care and said she heard five explosions, the first three hitting a telecommunications tower [1]. AP reports at least five people were killed earlier in the week during a US bombardment of southern Iran, one strike hitting a wedding [1]. These are survivor accounts and Iranian-reported figures, not an official US finding.

The strikes came a day after President Donald Trump sought to minimise the conflict as "small potatoes" [1]. Separately, diplomats say the US, Britain, France and Germany are seeking to refer Iran to the UN Security Council over its nuclear nonproliferation obligations — a track distinct from the shipping fight [1]. AP repeats that the US military has been guiding ships through the strait while Tehran asserts control and targets some vessels, and that overall traffic remains low [1].