Iran claims hitting US tanker hours after torpedo sinks its warship

Updated: Mar 5th, 2026

Hours after a torpedo from a US submarine attacked an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Thursday claimed it struck a US tanker in the Gulf, as per reports. 

The Iranian state media said the US ship was set on fire. 

The conflict has intensified further, marking a major escalation in the tensions, resulting in more than a thousand deaths in Iran and the loss of six American soldiers. The latest development comes less than 24 hours after a US submarine sank an Iranian warship near the southern coast of Sri Lanka. The incident has effectively pushed the conflict zone into the Indian Ocean, bringing it closer to India.

The Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was returning to Iran from India’s Visakhapatnam, where it had participated in two naval exercises last month. While sailing through international waters, the vessel was struck by a US torpedo. The unexpected strike caused heavy casualties, with 87 Iranian sailors confirmed dead. The ship’s commander and several senior officers were among the 32 people rescued by Sri Lanka, while more than 60 crew members are still reported missing.

A video released by the US Pentagon showed a massive explosion after the torpedo struck the ship. The blast severely damaged the rear section of the vessel, and the frigate sank shortly afterwards.

Speaking to state reporters, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Iranian warship died a ‘quiet death’. “An American submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,” Hegseth said.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the attack and vowed that Iran would retaliate for the US ‘atrocity’ carried out at sea nearly 2,000 miles from Iran’s coastline.

In recent days, the United States has intensified attacks against Iranian naval forces. These strikes include attacks on a container ship modified into an aircraft carrier for drones, as well as strikes on Iranian naval bases located along the edge of the Persian Gulf.