The US has launched a series of “powerful” strikes on Iran in response to attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command (Centcom) said on Tuesday it had begun the assault, “to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent individuals in an international waterway”.
The tankers were damaged within a 24-hour period on Monday and Tuesday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). No casualties were reported.
Iran has not claimed responsbility for the strikes on the vessels.
Earlier on Tuesday, a US official said Iran would be met with consequences and called the attacks “wholly unacceptable”.
The US Treasury had also revoked a sanctions waiver that temporarily lifted oil sanctions on Iran.
Qatar and Saudi Arabia have also denounced the attacks, with each saying a tanker from its country had been hit as it was transiting in or near the Strait.
Centcom said in a statement posted to X that US strikes were “in response to Iranian attacks”.
“Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire,” it said.
The US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity before Centcom’s announcement, insisted that US negotiators would continue to work in “good faith” towards a final deal with Iran.
The revoked US licence, which authorised Iran to sell oil and petrol products, was part of the memorandum of understanding, signed by Washington and Tehran last month.
A notice published on the Treasury’s website on Tuesday said it would allow a wind-down period to 17 July for transactions that had been allowed under the waiver.
