U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned that the United States will destroy and sink Iranian oil tankers if Iran attacks U.S. Navy ships.

Axar.az reports that Hegseth made the remarks in a post on X.

“It’s simple: if Iran shoots at U.S. ships, we will destroy (and sink) their oil tankers. All they have to do is not shoot at U.S. Navy,” he said.

He said Iran’s oil tanker fleet is defenseless, arguing that Iran has no navy or air force.

“Iran’s oil tanker fleet is defenseless — Iran has no navy or air force. Our planes, ships & subs can strike them all, in CENTCOM & U.S. Pacific Command,” Hegseth added.

It should be noted that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) previously announced that it had attacked three U.S. vessels and three tankers traveling along unauthorized routes in the Strait of Hormuz.