American warplanes struck Iranian military targets early Wednesday. The attacks came hours after projectiles hit three merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes threaten an interim deal designed to end the war between the two nations. According to U.S. Central Command, the actions intend to impose heavy costs for targeting innocent civilians in international waters.
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Subscribe Sekarang →The strikes occurred while Iran observed a dayslong funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died at the start of the conflict. One American official stated that the operation targeted air defense systems, coastal surveillance, ground-to-air missiles, and drone launch sites. Iranian port facilities were also on the target list. A second official said the strikes would last for hours and hit eight times more targets than the previous round in June.
Iranian state media reported loud explosions in Qeshm, Bandar Abbas, and Sirik. Kazem Gharibabadi, the deputy foreign minister of Iran, stated on social media that the American action violated the interim agreement. The violence occurred while President Donald Trump attended a NATO summit in Turkey.
Following the attacks on the tankers, Washington revoked a license that allowed the sale of Iranian oil under the interim deal. A United States official said the license was cancelled because the attacks in the channel were unacceptable. The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the decision, saying the United States bears full responsibility for breaching its commitment.
One liquefied natural gas tanker caught fire off the coast of Oman. Iranian state television reported the vessel ignored warnings but did not claim the assault. Two other ships sustained light damage and continued their journeys. Location data from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center showed all three vessels were using a route near Oman or the United Arab Emirates.
The United Nations International Maritime Organization reported that these assaults were the most frequent in a single day since late April. In peacetime, one-fifth of all global oil and natural gas moves through the narrow strait. Diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran are on hold until the burial of Khamenei is complete.
Meanwhile, the funeral procession for Khamenei moved to Najaf in Iraq. Mourners gathered by the hundreds of thousands. His son, the new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has not appeared at the ceremonies. Reports indicate he remains in hiding after being wounded in the airstrike that killed his father. The body will return to Iran for burial on Thursday.