Oil jumped more than 3% on Tuesday after Washington pulled the license that let Iran sell crude abroad. Hours later, U.S. Central Command said it had started hitting targets inside Iran.
The trigger was a run of attacks on shipping. According to a U.S. military statement, American forces had “begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping.” Three commercial vessels had been fired on while crossing the Strait of Hormuz, a second U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. CENTCOM was blunt on X: “Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire.”
It was not clear what the U.S. actually hit. Iranian media reported six projectiles landing around the Taheroui pier in Sirik, in the south of the country, and said several explosions were heard early Wednesday local time at Sirik, on Qeshm Island and in Bandar Abbas. They gave no cause for the blasts and no word on casualties or damage. Reuters described the strikes as the first known U.S. action against Iran since late last month, when the two sides traded blows for several days.
The tankers
Qatar put the blame on Iran. One of the ships hit was the Al Rekayyat, a huge Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker. It reported being struck overnight by a drone, which started a fire in the engine room. The crew were unhurt and were being taken off the vessel. Qatar’s foreign ministry summoned Iran’s deputy ambassador and gave him a protest note.
A Saudi-flagged crude tanker, believed to be the supertanker Wedyan, was also damaged off Oman. Maritime security sources said the cause was not yet known.
Tehran called the Qatari accusations perplexing. Its foreign ministry said Iran was diligently meeting its commitments, though it added that commercial ships risk trouble when they use routes not coordinated with Iran.
The oil license
The Treasury had issued a general license on June 22 under last month’s interim agreement. It allowed sales of Iranian crude, petrochemicals and petroleum products through August 21. On Tuesday the Treasury revoked it and gave Iran until July 17 to wind down any deals.
Iran’s foreign ministry said the move breached the framework agreement to end the war, and that Washington would answer for the consequences. It said early Wednesday that Iran would take whatever steps it judged necessary to protect its interests and national security.
A U.S. official had said earlier that negotiators were still working in good faith toward a final deal. Analysts told Reuters that control of the strait gives Tehran huge leverage, and that it uses attacks on ships to remind the U.S. of it while the long-term peace talks go on.
A ceasefire under strain
The war began in February with U.S. and Israeli strikes across Iran. The interim deal reached last month set up a 60-day window to negotiate a permanent settlement, but a round of indirect talks in Qatar ended last week with no sign of progress.
President Donald Trump has threatened more than once to restart the bombing. On Monday in the Oval Office he told reporters: “We’re either going to make a deal or we’re going to finish the job. We can knock down their bridges in one hour, we can knock out their energy supply.”
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi answered that under the ceasefire memorandum, talks on a final deal would “not commence if threats continue.”
The strikes came a day after huge crowds filled the streets of Qom to mourn Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war along with his daughter, granddaughter, son-in-law and daughter-in-law. Many hundreds of thousands of people marched behind the caskets, vowing revenge. Some carried placards reading “KILL TRUMP.”
Trump said four months ago that he went to war to destroy Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, end its ability to threaten neighbors and create conditions for Iranians to topple their leaders. Reuters noted that none of those goals has been met.
Sources
- US Military Launches Strikes Against Iran, Central Command Says
- US military launches strikes against Iran, Central Command says
