US Conducts Strikes on Iran After Attacks on Tankers in Strait of Hormuz

The United States has launched a series of strikes on Iran in response to attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, according to US Central Command (Centcom).

Centcom said on Tuesday that the strikes were intended to 'impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent individuals in an international waterway'. The attacks on the tankers occurred within a 24-hour period on Monday and Tuesday, as reported by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). No casualties were reported.

Iran's deputy foreign minister called the US strikes a violation of the US-Iran memorandum signed last month, warning that Tehran would 'take decisive measures'. The memorandum had temporarily lifted some oil sanctions on Iran in exchange for commitments.

Qatar and Saudi Arabia also denounced the attacks on the tankers, each stating that a vessel from its country had been hit while transiting near the Strait, and blamed Iran for the incidents.

In a statement posted on social media, Centcom said, 'Iran's demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire.'

Separately, the US Treasury revoked a sanctions waiver on Tuesday that had permitted Iran to sell oil and petrol products under the memorandum. A notice on the Treasury's website allowed a wind-down period until 17 July for transactions previously allowed.

Iran's foreign ministry called the revocation a breach of the memorandum, accusing the US government of 'bad faith, inconsistency, and unreliability'. It added that Tehran 'will take whatever measures it considers necessary to safeguard its national interests and national security'.