US CENTCOM Denies Iranian Attack on Navy Ships

The denial undercuts a narrative of direct escalation, but the destruction of Iranian oil tankers signals a deliberate squeeze on funding streams rather than a purely defensive posture. This matters for maritime risk assessments and oil market participants watching for supply disruptions in the region. The open question is whether this interdiction campaign will provoke a measured Iranian response or remain a one-way pressure tactic, as the lack of confirmed attacks suggests Tehran may be avoiding direct military confrontation for now.