The two unidentified ships in CENTCOM's strike video now have a description. IBTimes, citing Axios, reports US forces struck two Iranian tankers on Tuesday, anchored off Iran's coast and north of the blockade the US has been imposing, as part of about 100 targets that also included air defense sites, radar systems and mine-laying capabilities. An official told Axios the strikes reflect a new "tanker for tanker" approach approved by President Trump [3]. That narrows an open question from earlier in the week, when a CENTCOM spokesman would give USNI News no vessel names and would not say whether the ships were docked or underway.

Trump said on social media the attacks were retaliation for Iran's "failed attempt at adding sea mines" to the strait, which he said "currently has no mines (They have been completely removed or detonated!)", and for eight missiles fired at a US base in Jordan, all of which he said were knocked down. He warned that any Iranian retaliation would be met with a much harder strike [3].

Iran retaliated hours later. The IRGC said it would "tighten the lock" on the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran launched about 25 ballistic missiles, roughly half of which reached Jordanian airspace, with ten intercepted and three hitting the ground without casualties, plus dozens of drones at Bahrain and Kuwait, most intercepted. A US official said Iran "got nothing today." Separately, army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said Iran has "changed our military doctrine toward preemptive operations" [3].

On the mine question, INTERTANKO welcomed the clearance of sea mines from the internationally recognized Traffic Separation Scheme, which it says CENTCOM confirmed, but warned the move alone will not restore normal commercial traffic. Owners will keep deciding transits on security guidance, vessel-specific risk assessments and crew safety, and the association said the TSS should be restored as the primary commercial route once conditions stabilize [1]. That caution sits against JMIC advisories this week that still warned mariners about uncharted or drifting mines.

Vice President JD Vance told reporters Thursday: "I wouldn't call it a war... Right now, there is no active shooting," even as Iran fired at Kuwait. He put Wednesday's escorted flow at about 15 million barrels, while Lloyd's List counted 102 transits last week against 130 or more per day prewar and TankerTrackers averaged 5 million barrels a day over 28 days. Brent hovered above $95, versus about $72 before the conflict [2].