The US military launched strikes against Iran on Tuesday in retaliation for attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz — the first known US military strikes against Iran since late last month. Three tankers, including a Qatari vessel carrying liquefied natural gas, were struck in the strait.
In a significant escalation, the US Treasury revoked a temporary sanctions waiver for Iranian oil that had been announced in June. The license had allowed Iran to produce, sell, and deliver crude oil and related products through August 21. “Iran’s actions in the strait were totally unacceptable to the United States and will have consequences,” a Treasury Department official told AFP.
Iran’s foreign minister responded by saying the US attacks violate existing agreements and warned of possible reprisals. The strikes come amid ongoing — and now severely strained — negotiations between Tehran and Washington over the broader conflict in the Middle East.
