CENTCOM's Adm. Cooper Warns of Further Strikes on Iranian Tankers

US Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper said that after Iranian forces fired on two US-linked vessels, the US would respond by striking three Iranian tankers, stating: 'If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost -- taking out three of yours.'

Why this matters. The explicit ratio-based retaliation doctrine signals Washington intends further tanker strikes for any Iranian attack on shipping, raising the risk of a wider campaign against Iran's oil export fleet.