The US military has launched what it described as a ‘series of powerful strikes’ against Iran on Wednesday and revoked a license allowing the country to sell oil. The US response came after three tankers were hit by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.
“U.S. Central Command forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway. The U.S. strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire,” the US Central Command said in a post on X.
US strikes Iran
A US official told Reuters that strikes targeted Iranian air defense systems, coastal surveillance systems, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles and drone launch sites.
According to Iranian media reports, explosions were heard in the southern port city of Sirik, on Qeshm Island, and in . The strikes hit a commercial pier in Sirik and fishing piers in both Sirik and Bandar Abbas.
US revokes Iran’s oil sanctions waiver
In addition to the strikes, the US Treasury Department on Tuesday also revoked a general licence that authorised the sale of , saying Tehran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz were “wholly unacceptable” and would have consequences.
Under the interim US-Iran agreement, the Treasury Department issued a June 22 general license to allow the sale of crude oil and petrochemical and petroleum products of Iranian origin through August 21. Following the revocation, it gave Iran until July 17 to wind down any transactions.
Iran targets vessels in Strait of Hormuz
On Tuesday, Iran attacked three vessels, including the Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker Al-Rekayyat, while it was transiting near the . A Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker, believed to be the supertanker Wedyan, was also damaged off Oman.
Iran has insisted on controlling the Strait of Hormuz as part of the interim deal with the US, as the two countries continue to work towards a final deal.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that under the terms of the interim ceasefire memorandum, negotiations on the final deal would “not commence if threats continue”.
Funeral of Ali Khamenei
The strikes in the Strait of Hormuz and the US response come even as Iran is in the midst of the funeral of its late Supreme Leader.
After the funeral prayers in Tehran, the caskets of Ali Khamenei and family were driven through the streets of the seminary city of Qom on Tuesday, where many hundreds of thousands of people carried flags and banners comparing Khamenei to revered Shi’ite martyrs.
In chants they vowed to avenge Khamenei. Some bore placards and banners reading “KILL TRUMP”.
Later in the day Iranian state media showed what it said was footage of an airplane carrying Khamenei’s coffin at the airport of the Shi’ite holy shrine city of Najaf in neighbouring Iraq.
- The US military’s response signals a shift in engagement strategy with Iran amidst ongoing threats to maritime security.
- Revoking the oil sanctions waiver indicates a significant escalation in economic pressure on Iran.
- The international implications of the US actions may affect diplomatic negotiations related to the Iran nuclear deal.
