WASHINGTON: The United States launched a series of powerful military strikes against Iran on Tuesday and reimposed oil sanctions in retaliation for Iranian attacks on commercial shipping near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced.
“U.S. Central Command forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway,” CENTCOM said in a statement on X.
The strikes come in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. A US official told CNN the action was “punishment” and added, “It won’t be over for a bit,” signaling the possibility of further operations.
Iranian state media reported explosions were heard in the port cities of Bandar Abbas and Sirik, as well as on Qeshm Island, indicating the strikes hit coastal areas.
The military action unfolded as President Donald Trump arrived in Ankara, Turkey, for a NATO summit, where security in the Strait of Hormuz was expected to be a key topic of discussion among alliance leaders.
Separately, in a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Trump said he would soon decide whether to proceed with selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, despite an existing congressional ban on the transfer.
The US also moved to reimpose sanctions on Iranian oil sales, tightening economic pressure alongside the military response. The White House has not yet commented on whether the strikes are limited to retaliation or part of a broader campaign.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly one-fifth of global oil passes, has been a flashpoint for months, with Iran accusing the US and its allies of provoking tensions in the region. Tuesday’s escalation marks one of the most direct US-Iran military confrontations in
recent years.
