Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Wednesday (September 9) that it fired ballistic missiles at a base in Jordan used by the U.S. military and attacked 10 ships, after the U.S. said it had destroyed five Iranian oil tankers.

The wider Middle East war intensified on Tuesday with Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen launching strikes on several Saudi cities, further embroiling a U.S. ally in the conflict, while U.S. forces hit multiple Iranian oil tankers and Iran targeted a U.S. base in Jordan.

Iran has also threatened oil tankers in Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports, according to a statement shared by state media. A maritime security source reported a liquefied natural gas tanker was damaged in the Emirati port of Khor Fakkan, though it was unclear who was responsible.

Washington is trying to increase the flow of oil to world markets by guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz, while cutting off Iran's exports with a blockade.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) UNNAMED IRINN NEWS ANCHOR, SAYING:

"Two American vessels, eight oil tankers, and ten violating ships intending to pass through the prohibited and unsafe zone of the Strait of Hormuz were targeted."

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) UNNAMED IRINN NEWS ANCHOR, READING ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS (IRGC), SAYING: (CONTINUES OVER SCREEN SHOWING IRGC SEAL)

"The Public Relations Office of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that the valiant IRGC Navy, in response to the aggression and mischief of the terrorist American army in attacking five Iranian oil tankers in the ever-Persian Gulf, targeted two American vessels and eight oil tankers in this area and inflicted heavy damage on them."

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) UNNAMED IRINN NEWS ANCHOR, READING ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS (IRGC), SAYING: (OVERLAID BY SCREEN SHOWING IRGC SEAL)

"Also, 10 violating ships that, with the incitement and support of the terrorist invading American army, intended to pass through the prohibited and unsafe zone of the Strait of Hormuz were targeted."

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) UNNAMED IRINN NEWS ANCHOR, READING ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS (IRGC), SAYING: (OVERLAID BY SCREEN SHOWING IRGC SEAL)