The US has started launching “a series of powerful strikes against Iran,” US Central Command has said. The U.S. strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the command said in a message shared on social media, adding Iran attacked commercial shipping crewed by civilians.
The full message read: “U.S. Central Command forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway.
“The U.S. strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire.”
According to US broadcaster CBS, at least three tankers tried to transit the strait despite a warning from Iran. One vessel, however, ignored the warning from the Iranian forces, who did not claim any of the attacks, CBS added.
With a fragile ceasefire in place, US President Donald Trump appeared to launch an ultimatum to Iran, saying “we’re either going to have a deal or we’re going to have a war”.
An initial, two-week ceasefire was agreed in April, and was later extended indefinitely. While it has prevented all-out resumption of hostilities, it remains precarious. More talks then took place hosted by Pakistan, but they only produced a preliminary memorandum of understanding covering the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief elements, and nuclear constraints.
In a recent speech held as part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, Mr Trump said “we’ve had tremendous success”. “You look at Venezuela, you look at Iran. We wiped it out, wiped out their military,” he added.
Gulf markets dipped due to the conflict, which also damaged energy facilities, disrupted global shipping, and heightened regional tensions spilling into Lebanon. After today’s attacks, the international crude oil benchmark, Brent Crude, was up 5.5% on the day as of 4:45 p.m. ET, trading at just under $76 per barrel for September deliveries, CBS exaplined, also adding the U.S. benchmark, West Texas Intermediate, also jumped more than 5% to just over $72 per barrel for August deliveries.
