The US has launched new strikes on Iran after multiple commercial vessels were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command said they began the assault to ‘to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent individuals in an international waterway’.
Multiple oil tankers were targeted yesterday and today, the UK Maritime Trade Operations confirmed, but Iran hasn’t claimed responsibility for it.
In a statement, CENTCOM said: ‘Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire.’
The attacks came hours after the US said it would reinstate sanctions on Iran because of the strikes on ships.
In late June, the US and Iran have accused each other of violating the terms of the ceasefire after the two countries exchanged fire
Days after US President Donald Trump signed a peace agreement with the country, US Central Command (Centcom) declared it had hit multiple targets across Iran.
It said in a statement: ‘Iran was given a chance to honour the ceasefire agreement but elected not to when its forces launched a one-way attack drone that hit MT Kiku [a Panama-flagged tanker].’
Meanwhile, Trump said ‘the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist’ if it doesn’t stop alleged violations of the peace agreement.
Iran accused the US of a breach in the ceasefire agreement, citing ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon – the end of which was a requirement of the peace deal made by the two countries.
On June 20, Iran said the Strait of Hormuz was ‘closed’ again and accused the United States of violating ceasefire agreements.
The country said that ships must seek permission to use the waterway and raised the prospect of future charges for passing through it. It’s unclear if that’s why they fired upon ships in the Strait in recent days.
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