US says strikes launched as explosions heard in southern Iran
The US military says it has launched airstrikes against Iran as explosions were reported in several locations in the south of the country.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes began on Tuesday, and are being conducted “in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz”.
Iranian media have reported several explosions in the southern port city of Sirik, as well as Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas.
“According to state TV, six explosions have been heard on the island of Qeshm which is the largest island in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz, with very geostrategic significance when it comes to Iran’s control and authority over the Strait of Hormuz,” Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi reported from Tehran.
“The state TV also says that at least seven explosions have been heard in the areas close to Sirik Port which is very important because it oversees the Strait of Hormuz, another strategic point from which Iran imposes its control and authority over the Strait of Hormuz,” Asadi said.
Starting from the time after the signing of the [memorandum of understanding], we have been witnessing limited confrontation and escalation in this highly escalated situation at the Strait of Hormuz,” he added.
Following the blasts, Iran’s foreign ministry said it held the US government responsible for the consequences of breaching the memorandum of understanding (MoU) agreed between the two countries in June, which was supposed to put to an end to the war the US and Israel began against Iran in late February. The MoU mandated lifting the US naval blockade on Iran in exchange for Tehran reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz.
The US also agreed at the end of June to waive sanctions on Iranian oil for 60 days.
However, the US Treasury Department on Tuesday moved to revoke the temporary suspension of sanctions on Iranian oil, less than 20 days sales after the MoU was signed. The department cancelled a licence announced in June that had allowed Iran to produce, sell and deliver crude oil and related products through August 21.
The move by the Treasury Department comes after tankers in the Strait of Hormuz were attacked. A Qatari tanker caught fire off the coast of Oman Monday after being struck by an “unknown projectile” in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
Iranian television reported claims that the LNG tanker came under attack after ignoring warnings, but Tehran did not directly claim the assault. Neither the US Central Command (CENTCOM) nor the IRGC commented on the incident.
A second ship, a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker, was also damaged in the Strait of Hormuz when the IRGC fired missiles, sources told Reuters news agency.
A US official warned that Iran’s attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz were “wholly unacceptable” and would be met with consequences, Reuters reported Tuesday.
In response, Iran’s foreign ministry said it would take any measure it deemed necessary to safeguard the country’s interests and national security.
“The United States’ action in revoking the waiver for the exemption of sanctions on Iran’s oil sales constitutes a blatant violation of Article 10, and the subsequent military operations of this country against Iran also constitute a serious violation of Articles 1 and 2 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.” Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, said in a post on social media.
Gharibabadi said the US has “repeatedly” violated the MoU, citing Israeli attacks in Lebanon and threatening statements made against Iran.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗
The US military conducted airstrikes against Iran on Tuesday in response to reported Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Multiple explosions were reported in southern Iranian locations including Qeshm Island and Sirik Port. The strikes occurred after the US Treasury Department revoked a temporary suspension of sanctions on Iranian oil, reversing a provision from a June memorandum of understanding that had aimed to de-escalate tensions. Iran's foreign ministry characterized both the sanctions reversal and the military action as violations of that agreement and indicated it would take further steps to safeguard its interests.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗
The US military says it has launched airstrikes against Iran as explosions were reported in several locations in the south of the country.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes began on Tuesday, and are being conducted “in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz”.
Iranian media have reported several explosions in the southern port city of Sirik, as well as Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas.
“According to state TV, six explosions have been heard on the island of Qeshm which is the largest island in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz, with very geostrategic significance when it comes to Iran’s control and authority over the Strait of Hormuz,” Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi reported from Tehran.
“The state TV also says that at least seven explosions have been heard in the areas close to Sirik Port which is very important because it oversees the Strait of Hormuz, another strategic point from which Iran imposes its control and authority over the Strait of Hormuz,” Asadi said.
Starting from the time after the signing of the [memorandum of understanding], we have been witnessing limited confrontation and escalation in this highly escalated situation at the Strait of Hormuz,” he added.
Following the blasts, Iran’s foreign ministry said it held the US government responsible for the consequences of breaching the memorandum of understanding (MoU) agreed between the two countries in June, which was supposed to put to an end to the war the US and Israel began against Iran in late February. The MoU mandated lifting the US naval blockade on Iran in exchange for Tehran reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz.
The US also agreed at the end of June to waive sanctions on Iranian oil for 60 days.
However, the US Treasury Department on Tuesday moved to revoke the temporary suspension of sanctions on Iranian oil, less than 20 days sales after the MoU was signed. The department cancelled a licence announced in June that had allowed Iran to produce, sell and deliver crude oil and related products through August 21.
The move by the Treasury Department comes after tankers in the Strait of Hormuz were attacked. A Qatari tanker caught fire off the coast of Oman Monday after being struck by an “unknown projectile” in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
Iranian television reported claims that the LNG tanker came under attack after ignoring warnings, but Tehran did not directly claim the assault. Neither the US Central Command (CENTCOM) nor the IRGC commented on the incident.
A second ship, a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker, was also damaged in the Strait of Hormuz when the IRGC fired missiles, sources told Reuters news agency.
A US official warned that Iran’s attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz were “wholly unacceptable” and would be met with consequences, Reuters reported Tuesday.
In response, Iran’s foreign ministry said it would take any measure it deemed necessary to safeguard the country’s interests and national security.
“The United States’ action in revoking the waiver for the exemption of sanctions on Iran’s oil sales constitutes a blatant violation of Article 10, and the subsequent military operations of this country against Iran also constitute a serious violation of Articles 1 and 2 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.” Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, said in a post on social media.
Gharibabadi said the US has “repeatedly” violated the MoU, citing Israeli attacks in Lebanon and threatening statements made against Iran.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗
The US Central Command said strikes began Tuesday in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz Iranian state media reported six explosions on Qeshm Island and at least seven explosions near Sirik Port A Qatari tanker caught fire off Oman on Monday after being struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz A Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker was damaged when the IRGC fired missiles, according to Reuters sources The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in June that included lifting the US naval blockade in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz The US Treasury Department revoked a sanctions waiver on Iranian oil on Tuesday, less than three weeks after the June agreement Iran's deputy foreign minister said the US has repeatedly violated the memorandum through Israeli attacks in Lebanon and threatening statements Iran's foreign ministry said it would take any measure necessary to safeguard the country's interests and national security
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗
- US military launched airstrikes on southern Iran on Tuesday, citing Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz
- Explosions were reported in Qeshm Island, Sirik Port, and Bandar Abbas according to Iranian state media
- The strikes follow the US Treasury Department's decision to revoke a temporary sanctions waiver on Iranian oil, less than three weeks after a June memorandum of understanding between the two countries
- Iran's foreign ministry said the US violated the agreement and reserved the right to take measures to protect its interests
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