The United States launched a series of military strikes against targets in Iran on Tuesday after Tehran allegedly attacked multiple commercial vessels transiting the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, marking a significant escalation in tensions despite an existing ceasefire agreement.
According to U.S. Central Command (Centcom), the strikes were aimed at holding Iran accountable for attacks on civilian shipping in one of the world's most important maritime trade corridors.
Centcom said the military action is intended to “impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians” in the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of the world's oil and natural gas shipments pass.
“Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire,” Centcom said.
The U.S. response followed reports that Iran attacked at least three commercial vessels in or near the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier Tuesday, Qatar accused Iran of striking Al-Rekayyat, a Qatari liquefied natural gas vessel, alleging that Tehran disrupted maritime traffic and violated international law.
Meanwhile, the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations, which is affiliated with the British Royal Navy, reported that a commercial tanker caught fire Monday after being struck by a projectile while transiting near the coast of Oman. No casualties were reported.
Iran has also warned oil tankers to use Tehran-approved transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz or face what it described as a "forceful response" from its military.
The attacks come during a period of heightened tensions inside Iran, where large crowds have gathered for multiday funeral processions honoring late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes at the end of February.
The military action coincided with a major economic move by the Trump administration.
On Tuesday, the Treasury Department revoked a sanctions waiver that had previously allowed the sale of Iranian oil and petrochemicals. Under the updated guidance, transactions authorized under the previous waiver must be wound down by July 17. The earlier waiver would have permitted those sales through Aug. 21.
The original sanctions relief was part of a ceasefire memorandum of understanding (MOU) reached between the United States and Iran following months of conflict.
A U.S. official said the agreement remains "performance-based," explaining that Iran would only receive the benefits of the arrangement if it demonstrated compliance.
The official said Tehran's recent actions were unacceptable and that the decision to restore sanctions was a direct consequence of those actions. Despite the renewed pressure campaign, the official added that negotiators continue working toward a final agreement.
Iran possesses some of the world's largest proven oil reserves, though international sanctions have significantly constrained its export capacity.
The latest violence also threatens renewed disruption to global energy markets. Earlier hostilities that affected shipping through the Strait of Hormuz contributed to higher worldwide oil and gas prices. While prices had eased following the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement, the latest developments have cast fresh uncertainty over the future of that deal and the stability of global energy supplies.
