US Launches Retaliatory Strikes Against Iran Over Ship Attacks
The United States has launched a new series of military strikes against Iran in response to Tehran’s attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions in the Middle East. The operation, announced on Tuesday local time, comes after Iran targeted three commercial vessels transiting the strategic waterway.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that the strikes were intended to punish Iran for the unprovoked aggression. “US Central Command forces have begun a series of devastating strikes against Iran to impose severe consequences for the targeting and attack on commercial vessels crewed by innocent civilians in international waterways,” CENTCOM said in a statement posted on X.
The latest military action threatens to derail a fragile ceasefire previously agreed upon by Washington and Tehran. The renewed hostilities have sparked fears of further disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global chokepoint for oil shipments.
The conflict reignited earlier this week after Iran attacked the commercial ships. In response, the US government revoked sanctions waivers on Iranian oil on Tuesday morning, intensifying pressure on bilateral relations and contributing to a rise in global oil prices.
The two nations had previously halted hostilities following a major clash the month before, agreeing to a temporary cessation of fighting during peace negotiations that included the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had closed for months. Washington and Tehran also signed a Memorandum of Understanding in June covering the cessation of conflict and the restoration of shipping activity in the strait, an agreement now severely tested by the latest US strikes.
The broader conflict between the US and Iran reportedly began on 28 February after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran. President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that the military operations aim to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, an issue central to the June MoU discussions. As tensions flared, Trump was in Ankara, Turkey, attending a NATO summit with allied leaders.