US launches strikes on Iran after tankers hit in Strait of Hormuz

BBC:

The US has launched a series of “powerful” strikes on Iran in response to attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

US Central Command (Centcom) said on Tuesday it had begun the assault, “to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent individuals in an international waterway”.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister called the US attacks a violation of the US-Iran memorandum signed last month, and warned that Tehran would “take decisive measures”.

Iranian state media says strikes had hit Qeshm island, Bandar Abbas and Sirik, where people have been injured by shrapnel. No deaths have been reported.

The US had said there would be consequences to what it has called the “wholly unacceptable” attacks on the tankers.

In a statement on Tuesday night, Centcom said the US strikes were “in response to Iranian attacks”.

“Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire,” it said.

Before the strikes, the US Treasury earlier on Tuesday revoked a waiver that had temporarily lifted oil sanctions on Iran.

The licence, which authorised Iran to sell oil and petrol products, was part of the memorandum of understanding, signed by Washington and Tehran last month.

Iran’s foreign ministry called the 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”.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity before Centcom’s announcement of fresh strikes, the US official insisted that US negotiators would continue to work in “good faith” towards a final deal with Iran.