The United States has carried out a new wave of military strikes against Iran, responding to a series of attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz that escalated tensions just days into the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader.
US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed the offensive, stating the action was taken ‘to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent individuals in an international waterway’
According to the BBC, the strikes targeted air defence systems, coastal surveillance infrastructure, ground-to-air missiles, and launch sites for anti-ship cruise missiles and drones, according to US officials.
The attacks on the tankers occurred within a 24-hour period on Monday and Tuesday, with the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reporting that one vessel caught fire after a projectile struck its engine room, while others sustained minor structural damage. No casualties were reported.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the US military response, with Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi describing the strikes as a violation of the US-Iran memorandum signed last month.
Tehran warned it would ‘take decisive measures’ to safeguard its national interests.
The US Treasury also revoked a sanctions waiver that had temporarily permitted the sale of Iranian oil, a move that was part of the interim agreement.
Tehran labelled the revocation a breach of the memorandum, stating it proved the ‘bad faith, inconsistency, and unreliability’ of the US government.
The US official, speaking anonymously, insisted that negotiators would continue to work in ‘good faith’ towards a final deal despite the escalation.
Regional allies swiftly condemned Iran’s actions, as Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari, held Iran ‘fully responsible’ for the attack on the Qatari-flagged vessel, demanding Tehran ‘immediately cease all practices that undermine regional security.’
Similarly, Saudi Arabia denounced the assault on its own tanker, describing it as an attack on the security of international navigation and global energy supplies.
Iran responded to the accusations by stating that commercial vessels using routes not coordinated with Iran or tampering with ship tracking face a risk of collision, a claim it argues is necessary to ‘facilitate safe transit’ in the strait.
The current hostilities stem from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran following US and Israeli strikes on 28 February, a vital waterway through which approximately a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies typically pass.
The interim 14-point agreement had temporarily paused the conflict and committed a $300bn fund for Iran’s reconstruction.
AP News has reported that the latest US strikes occurred during the days-long funeral for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the start of the war.
While the US and Gulf states maintain they will not agree to Iran charging for passage through the strait, negotiations to secure the waterway’s future remain deadlocked.
Meanwhile, the US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center had previously assured shippers that alternative routes were available, though Iran continues to insist on controlling vessel movements and imposing service fees for safe passage.
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