Rubio Vows Iran Loses a Tanker for Every Attempt to Strike a US Warship

After Iran's IRGC twice fired ballistic missiles at a US Navy warship on September 8, 2026, American forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers near Kharg Island. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared Iran would "lose tankers for every attempt to hit US naval ships," formalizing a direct-cost retaliation doctrine targeting Iran's maritime oil revenue beyond conventional sanctions.