US strikes Iranian sites near Hormuz after attacks on commercial vessels, Iran says cease-fire breached

The United States military carried out air strikes on Iranian launch sites, air-defence installations and coastal surveillance systems around the Strait of Hormuz in the early hours of Wednesday. The operation was described as a response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the strait on Tuesday, including a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker.

U.S. Central Command said the Iranian actions were “unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the cease-fire.” Officials told media that the strikes were expected to last several hours and targeted weapon launch facilities.

Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the attacks, accusing the United States of repeatedly breaching the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that began a 60-day negotiation period on Iran’s nuclear program. The ministry also highlighted the U.S. Treasury’s decision to revoke a temporary waiver that had allowed limited Iranian oil exports.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre confirmed that the Qatari tanker Al Rekayyat was among the vessels hit on Tuesday. Qatar’s foreign ministry called the incident a “serious and explicit violation” of international law and said it would hold Iran responsible for the aggression.

The United States had lifted sanctions on Iranian oil exports after the MOU was signed but reinstated them following the tanker attacks. The episode underscores ongoing disputes over the interpretation of the agreement, with both sides accusing the other of violating the cease-fire and hindering the reopening of commercial traffic through the strait.