The U.S. military said on Tuesday evening that it had completed a new round of strikes against Iran.
The strikes came in response to attacks on vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
CENTCOM Says Over 80 Targets Were Hit
U.S. Central Command said it struck more than 80 targets inside Iran.
The targets included air defense systems, command networks, radar sites, and anti-ship missiles.
CENTCOM said the strikes were meant to impose heavy costs on Iran for targeting commercial ships crewed by civilians in an international waterway.
US Responds to Attacks on Commercial Vessels
CENTCOM said the U.S. strikes were a response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.
The agency accused Iran of dangerous and unwarranted aggression. It also said the attacks violated the ceasefire agreement.
Iran Condemns US Military Action
Iran strongly criticized the U.S. strikes.
Speaker of Parliament Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf accused Washington of major violations of the memorandum of understanding in a social media post.
Local media reports, citing Iranian officials, said Tehran was prepared for further U.S. attacks. Reports also claimed that Iran’s military had shot down a U.S. drone.
US Revokes Iranian Oil License
The U.S. strikes came shortly after the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control revoked a key license related to Iranian oil.
The license had allowed the production, delivery, and sale of crude oil, petrochemical products, and petroleum products of Iranian origin.
Reuters and Axios reported that the move was linked to the latest attacks, citing a U.S. official.
The official described Iran’s actions as unacceptable and said there would be consequences. However, the official also said negotiations were continuing in good faith.
UKMTO Reports Tanker Attacks Near Hormuz
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said it had received reports of attacks on three oil tankers in and around the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours.
According to UKMTO, two tankers were hit by unknown projectiles. A third vessel was struck by a drone.
No casualties were reported.
The agency later raised its threat level for the region from substantial to severe.
Iran Has Not Publicly Claimed Responsibility
Iran has not publicly claimed responsibility for the tanker attacks.
However, Axios reported that Iran’s military had fired on three commercial ships, citing U.S. officials.
Iran has previously said that vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz must use routes approved by Tehran. It has also warned ships to avoid a temporary shipping corridor created by Oman and the International Maritime Organization.
Qatar and Saudi Arabia Condemn Attacks
One of the first reports involved a tanker traveling south near the Omani coast.
The vessel was hit by an unidentified projectile, which caused a fire. Iran did not officially claim the attack.
Anonymous sources quoted by Iranian state television suggested that the strike targeted a tanker carrying natural gas from Qatar.
Qatar later identified the vessel as the Al-Rekayyat and condemned the attack. It said it held Iran fully legally responsible.
Saudi Arabia also identified one of the vessels reported to UKMTO as a Saudi tanker named the Vijian. Riyadh also condemned the attack.
US-Iran Tensions Rise Again
The latest attacks threaten to further damage relations between Washington and Tehran.
The two countries had signed an interim peace deal last month. That agreement ended fighting on all fronts and reopened the Strait of Hormuz.
However, tensions had already increased at the end of June after Iran’s military attacked ships, prompting retaliatory U.S. airstrikes.
Doha Talks End Without Progress
A recent round of indirect talks between the United States and Iran took place in Doha, Qatar.
The discussions ended without major progress on security in the Strait of Hormuz.
The waterway has become a central issue in peace negotiations, alongside Iran’s nuclear program and fighting between Israel and Tehran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
Strait of Hormuz Remains Key Issue
Iran has demanded that it keep some control over the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. has rejected those demands.
The strait remains a vital chokepoint for global shipping and energy markets. Any disruption in the area can quickly affect oil, gas, and broader market sentiment.
Talks Remain on Hold
U.S.-Iran talks appeared to remain paused during the multi-day funeral of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Khamenei was killed in strikes at the beginning of the war.
According to the Associated Press, his body was flown overnight to the Shiite seminary city of Qom.
