The United States military has launched airstrikes against targets in Iran following a series of attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, significantly escalating tensions between the two countries.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes were carried out in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial ships transiting the strategic waterway. Explosions were subsequently reported in the southern Iranian city of Sirik, as well as Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas, according to Iranian media.
The latest escalation comes weeks after the United States and Iran reached a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that included the temporary easing of sanctions and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. However, the US Treasury on Tuesday revoked the temporary sanctions waiver on Iranian oil exports following recent attacks on vessels in the region.
Reports indicate that a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker caught fire off the coast of Oman after being struck by an unidentified projectile, while another Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker was reportedly damaged during the attacks. Iran has not officially claimed responsibility for the incidents.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the US airstrikes, accusing Washington of violating the June agreement and warning that Tehran would take all necessary measures to protect its national security and interests.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes, and the latest confrontation has heightened concerns over regional stability and the potential impact on global energy markets.
