The US military launched a sweeping new wave of strikes against Iran on Tuesday, hitting over 80 targets including IRGC small boats, air defence systems, coastal surveillance infrastructure, and anti-ship missile sites, after three tankers were struck by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, dealing a severe blow to an already fragile ceasefire.
US Central Command (Centcom) said the strikes were intended to impose what it called “heavy costs” on Iran, and specifically targeted more than 60 small IRGC boats in an effort to degrade Iran’s capacity to threaten commercial shipping. Centcom described the tanker attacks as a clear and dangerous violation of the ceasefire and of freedom of navigation.
In a significant economic blow, Washington simultaneously revoked a general licence it had issued on June 22 permitting Iran to sell crude oil and petroleum products on international markets, giving Tehran until July 17 to wind down any ongoing transactions. Oil prices surged more than 3% following the announcement.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) swiftly retaliated, claiming to have struck 85 key US military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain through a joint missile and drone operation, and reporting the downing of an American MQ-9 drone. Iranian media also reported explosions on Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export hub, as well as in Qeshm Island and the southern port cities of Sirik and Bandar Abbas, where fishing boats were set ablaze and several people were injured by shrapnel.
Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the oil licence revocation as a breach of the ceasefire framework and warned that Tehran would take any measure it deemed necessary to defend its interests. Iran’s top military command vowed a “crushing response” and warned the US against interfering in the management of the Strait of Hormuz.
The ceasefire, struck last month following the US and Israeli war on Iran that began in February, was already under severe strain after indirect talks in Qatar ended last week with no progress on a permanent deal.
