Iran claims strike on US ship in Strait of Hormuz as fighting escalates

Iran claims strike on US ship in Strait of Hormuz as fighting escalates 1 of 8 | The U.S. military on Saturday said it struck three Iranian oil tankers after Navy warships were targeted with missiles, warning that it would “if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.” 2 of 8 | Ships were seen in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday amid continued tensions between the U.S. and Iran which both claim control over the narrow waterway that is vital to global energy supply. (AP video shot by: Mohsen Ganji) 3 of 8 | Survivors of a recent strike at a wedding event in southern Iran recalled the harrowing moments of the explosions that killed 5 people and injured dozens, from their hospital beds on Saturday. (AP video shot by Mohsen Ganji) 4 of 8 | A swimmer remains near the shore as a motorboat passes commercial vessels anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) 5 of 8 | Relatives visit Kiana Karimi, 14, who was wounded during a strike what Iranian media said was a U.S. strike late Tuesday, in Kuhestak, as she lies on the bed in a hospital in town of Minab in southern Iran, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) 6 of 8 | A girl plays in the water with a swim ring as commercial vessels lie anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) 7 of 8 | A man, woman and boy ride a motorcycle along the waterfront as commercial vessels lie anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) 8 of 8 | Two people sit on rocks overlooking a beach as others swim and commercial vessels lie anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) 1 of 8 The U.S. military on Saturday said it struck three Iranian oil tankers after Navy warships were targeted with missiles, warning that it would “if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.” Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 8 Ships were seen in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday amid continued tensions between the U.S. and Iran which both claim control over the narrow waterway that is vital to global energy supply. (AP video shot by: Mohsen Ganji) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 3 of 8 Survivors of a recent strike at a wedding event in southern Iran recalled the harrowing moments of the explosions that killed 5 people and injured dozens, from their hospital beds on Saturday. (AP video shot by Mohsen Ganji) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 4 of 8 | A swimmer remains near the shore as a motorboat passes commercial vessels anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) 4 of 8 A swimmer remains near the shore as a motorboat passes commercial vessels anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 5 of 8 | Relatives visit Kiana Karimi, 14, who was wounded during a strike what Iranian media said was a U.S. strike late Tuesday, in Kuhestak, as she lies on the bed in a hospital in town of Minab in southern Iran, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) 5 of 8 Relatives visit Kiana Karimi, 14, who was wounded during a strike what Iranian media said was a U.S. strike late Tuesday, in Kuhestak, as she lies on the bed in a hospital in town of Minab in southern Iran, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 6 of 8 | A girl plays in the water with a swim ring as commercial vessels lie anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) 6 of 8 A girl plays in the water with a swim ring as commercial vessels lie anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 7 of 8 | A man, woman and boy ride a motorcycle along the waterfront as commercial vessels lie anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) 7 of 8 A man, woman and boy ride a motorcycle along the waterfront as commercial vessels lie anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 8 of 8 | Two people sit on rocks overlooking a beach as others swim and commercial vessels lie anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) 8 of 8 Two people sit on rocks overlooking a beach as others swim and commercial vessels lie anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] CAIRO (AP) — Iran said Sunday it struck an unmanned U.S. vessel trying to enter the Strait of Hormuz, the latest salvo in a new flare-up of fighting between the two countries.The U.S. did not immediately confirm the purported attack, which came a day after the U.S. military said forces struck three Iranian oil tankers in response to a missile attack on Navy warships.The war began with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb. 28. But since a ceasefire agreement was announced in June, on-and-off fighting has persisted with both sides trying to inflict military and economic pain as negotiations have collapsed. Strikes come about a week after fighting resumedThe U.S. and Iran resumed attacks last week, following a month of relative calm, with the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian communities along it again being targeted. At least five people were killed earlier in the week during a U.S. bombardment of southern Iran.The Trump administration appears to have adopted a dual-prong approach to the conflict, responding militarily to attacks on the strait while going after foreign financial institutions that handle Iran’s money. But Tehran’s hard-line new senior leaders have signaled the willingness to dig in after weathering decades of sanctions. Iran has found ways over the years to circumvent sanctions, and now the U.S. blockade, and get its oil to buyers to help ease growing economic pressures. That relies in part on a shadow fleet transporting its oil. 3 MIN READ 5 MIN READ 4 MIN READ Meanwhile, Iran’s nuclear program, the issue that contributed to the outbreak of the war, was meant to be addressed in negotiations that fell apart soon after the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in mid-June. Diplomats say the U.S., Britain, France and Germany seek to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council for failure to comply with its nuclear nonproliferation obligations.Instead, Tehran’s new leverage focuses on the Strait of Hormuz that is crucial to global oil and natural gas shipments and was seen as an international waterway before the war began.___Magdy reported from Cairo and Frankel reported from Jerusalem. Magdy is a Middle East reporter for The Associated Press, based in Cairo. He focuses on conflict, migration and human rights abuses. Frankel, based in Jerusalem, has reported from across Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Her reporting focuses on war, human rights, displacement and criminal justice.