US Strikes Iranian Military Sites After Attacks on Ships in Strait of Hormuz

The United States launched military strikes against Iranian targets on Tuesday, hours after three commercial vessels were attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command said the strikes targeted Iranian air defence systems, coastal surveillance sites, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship cruise missile positions, drone launch sites, and port facilities.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, US Central Command described the action as a response to “Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels” and said it would “impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping.” The statement added that “Iran's demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire.”

Iranian media reported explosions in the port cities of Bandar Abbas and Sirik, as well as on Qeshm Island. Iran’s central military command warned it “will respond decisively to this aggression and terrorist act” and stated that it would not allow interference in the affairs of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf wrote on X: “The era of bullying and extortion is over. It leads nowhere. We don't fold.” Iranian state media did not provide details on any casualties or damage from the strikes.

The strikes came after three oil tankers were hit by projectiles while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. Following those attacks, the United States revoked a sanctions waiver that had allowed Iran to sell oil. The waiver was part of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in Islamabad, which had established an interim ceasefire and aimed to de-escalate tensions.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi accused the US of violating the MoU. “The United States' action in revoking the waiver for the exemption of sanctions on Iran's oil sales constitutes a blatant violation of Article 10, and the subsequent military operations of this country against Iran also constitute a serious violation of Articles 1 and 2 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,” he said in a statement on X. He warned that Iran would “take decisive actions to safeguard its national interests and security.”

The renewed hostilities complicate ongoing talks aimed at fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz, scaling back Iran’s nuclear programme, and reaching a lasting end to the conflict that began on 28 February, when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, killing then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The interim agreement had halted active fighting, but these latest strikes raise the risk of a return to broader conflict.