Washington/Tehran: The United States carried out “powerful” strikes against Iranian targets after attacks damaged three oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, US Central Command (Centcom) said on Tuesday.
Centcom said the operation struck more than 80 targets, including over 60 small boats belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as well as missile launch sites and command centres.
Centcom said the strikes were intended “to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent individuals in an international waterway.” It did not give precise locations for all targets.
Iran Reports Damage & Injuries
Iranian state media reported that strikes had hit Qeshm Island, Bandar Abbas and Sirik, and said people were wounded by shrapnel. The Iranian foreign ministry said Washington’s actions violated a memorandum of understanding signed last month, and warned Tehran would “take whatever measures it considers necessary to safeguard its national interests and national security.”
Iran has not publicly accepted responsibility for the attacks on the three tankers that prompted the US response.
US Facilities In Gulf States Hit: IRGC
In the early hours of Wednesday, the IRGC said it counterattacked US military positions in Bahrain and Kuwait. The IRGC claimed it launched missiles and drones at “85 key US military facilities” in the two countries, naming a US Navy headquarters and an air base in Kuwait among the targets. The claims have not been independently verified, as reported by BBC.
Diplomatic Fallout & Accusations Over Tankers
Qatar and Saudi Arabia both said tankers flagged to their countries were hit while transiting in or near the strait and blamed Iran. Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said it held Iran “fully responsible” for what it described as a targeted attack on the vessel Al-Rekayyat.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said a Saudi tanker, Wadyan, was struck as it crossed the strait. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei rejected Qatar’s accusation as “contrary to the principle of good neighbourliness” and said ships that do not coordinate routes with Iran or tamper with tracking “face a risk of collision and disrupt Iran’s efforts to ‘facilitate safe transit’ in the strait.”
Shipping Reports & Maritime Warnings
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a tanker reported a fire after an unknown projectile struck its engine room on Monday. On Tuesday, UKMTO logged two other incidents: one tanker reported being hit as it left the strait but was able to continue to its next port, and another said it sustained minor structural damage after being struck.
Sanctions Waiver Revoked
Before the US strikes, Washington revoked a temporary waiver that had relaxed oil sanctions on Iran; the waiver had been part of a 14-point memorandum of understanding agreed last month. Iran criticised the revocation as evidence of US “bad faith, inconsistency, and unreliability,” saying it breached the memorandum. US officials said there would be consequences for what they called the “wholly unacceptable” attacks on the tankers.
Deal Settle Hormuz Control Talks
The memorandum included provisions for Iran and Oman—both countries bordering the Strait of Hormuz—to hold talks with other Gulf states about the future administration and maritime services in the waterway. As part of its broader effort to assert control, Iran proposed a “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” that it said would issue “safe passage permits” and could charge “service fees” for transits. Iran’s Fars news agency reported the strait would ultimately be managed by Iran in coordination with Oman under the deal.
US: Talks Continue
Despite the strikes, a US official speaking on condition of anonymity said American negotiators would continue working in “good faith” toward a final agreement with Iran. The official described the recent US action as a response to attacks on commercial shipping and as part of efforts to deter further strikes.
