The United States launched a series of strikes on Iran on Tuesday after Iranian forces attacked three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by BBC News. US Central Command said it began the assault to "impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent individuals in an international waterway."
Iranian state media reported that strikes hit Qeshm island, Bandar Abbas, and Sirik. People in those areas were injured by shrapnel. No deaths were reported.
Centcom said in a statement Tuesday night that the strikes were "in response to Iranian attacks" and that "Iran's demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire."
Before the strikes were announced, the US Treasury revoked a waiver that had temporarily lifted oil sanctions on Iran. That licence had authorized Iran to sell oil and petroleum products as part of a memorandum of understanding signed by Washington and Tehran last month.
Iran's foreign ministry called the sanction move a breach of the memorandum and said it proved the "bad faith, inconsistency, and unreliability" of the US government. It added that Tehran "will take whatever measures it considers necessary to safeguard its national interests and national security."
Iran's deputy foreign minister called the US strikes a violation of the same memorandum and warned that Tehran would "take decisive measures."
Qatar and Saudi Arabia each confirmed that one of their tankers had been hit. Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said his country held Iran "fully responsible" for an apparent targeted attack on a vessel called Al-Rekayyat as it transited near the strait. Qatar demanded that Iran "immediately cease all practices that undermine regional security" and "refrain from endangering global energy supplies & the resources of the countries of the region in pursuit of narrow interests."
Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said Iran had targeted the Saudi tanker Wadyan as it crossed the strait and called the assaults "an attack on the security and safety of international navigation, and the security of global energy supplies."
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei described Qatar's accusations as "contrary to the principle of good neighbourliness."
A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity before Centcom's announcement, said US negotiators would continue to work in "good faith" toward a final deal with Iran.
