The United States military has launched a new wave of strikes against Iranian targets, marking a continued escalation of hostilities following a series of attacks on commercial shipping. These latest actions came after a drone attack on the Panama-flagged tanker MT Kiku in the Strait of Hormuz. The MT Kiku was reportedly carrying over two million barrels of crude oil when it was hit, though no crew were injured and no cargo leaked. This incident follows an earlier drone attack on the Singapore-registered container ship Ever Lovely. CENTCOM, the US Central Command, stated that these strikes were a direct response to "continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping."
The US strikes, carried out under President Donald Trump's direction, targeted various Iranian military assets, including surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelaying equipment. Iran's state television reported explosions in areas north of the Strait of Hormuz, near the port of Sirik, and on Qeshm Island. A US official indicated that these strikes were larger than previous ones, noting that "Iran had a chance to stop shooting and they didn't take it. Instead, they attacked another ship in Hormuz this morning."
Both the US and Iran have accused each other of violating a ceasefire agreement signed on June 17, which called for an end to military operations and guaranteed the free passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days. The US asserts that Iran failed to uphold its end of the agreement by continuing to attack commercial ships. Conversely, Iran has blamed the US for violating the ceasefire and has insisted that all ships must now seek its approval before transiting the strait. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway through which nearly 20% of the world's oil supply passes, and its closure in February by Iran had previously led to a sharp increase in global fuel prices.
