US launches ‘powerful’ strikes on Iran after it attacked tankers in Strait of Hormuz as Don re-imposes oil sanctions
US forces have launched “powerful” retaliatory strikes against Iran in a fresh blow to peace talks after the regime brazenly shot at ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Donald Trump hit back by re-imposing sanctions against Tehran after three separate attacks on Monday and Tuesday, which the White House branded “wholly unacceptable”. In a statement on X, US Central Command said the latest strikes were carried out “to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway”. It added: “Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire.” Air defence systems, surface-to-air missiles, drone launch sites and port facilities were targeted, a US official told Axios. They said that coastal surveillance systems and anti-ship cruise missile sites had also come under attack. Read more in World Explosions were reported in the port cities of Bandar Abbas and Sirik, as well as on Qeshm Island – which have been subjected to heavy US bombardment this year. Fuel prices skyrocketed by 5 per cent after the sanctions were reinstated, in a bitter blow to a recovering energy market. The US Treasury had authorised Iranian oil sales until August 21 as part of a fragile accord between Tehran and Washington. But after Tehran fired at three commercial vessels in the shipping lane, those rights were revoked. Most read in The Sun Iranian state TV claimed a ship came under attack after “ignoring warnings” but stopped short of claiming responsibility. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most vital oil trade routes, but has been at the heart of a bitter conflict between the US, Israel and Iran since February 28. Since then, Tehran’s Islamic Guards and the US military have fought for control in a ferocious naval tug-of-war. A breakthrough appeared to have been made on June 17, when Trump and Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to bring an end to the war and launch peace talks. But the latest exchange of fire threatens to drag the warring nations away from the negotiating table. Iran‘s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that Tehran would shun further talks if US threats continued, after which Trump said he would “finish the job” if peace wasn’t reached. The US president claimed Iran was “begging to make a deal” and warned that a “one shot” strike could take out Iranian chiefs gathered at Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral. Talks appear to have been on hold while the country mourns its former tyrant. Chants of “revenge” and “we kill he who killed our Imam”, rung out from the procession that swept through the capital. Despite the recent exchange, both sides will be hoping that hostilities don’t escalate again A key point of the MOU agreed that ships would pass through the strait without charge for 60 days, but Tehran insisted it must control the routes. Trump is meanwhile at a high-stakes Nato summit in Ankara, Turkey, after he insisted on loyalty after some Nato countries balked at allowing US forces to use their bases for attacks on Iran. He has listed big European members Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain for criticism. It comes at a turning point in the organisation’s history as the US steps back from its traditional security role in Europe. The US president has repeatedly hit out at members for dithering on defence as he threatened to withdraw from the “paper tiger” alliance earlier this year. The White House reminded allies on Sunday that they must try to reach an agreed target to spend five per cent of their GDP on defence by 2035. The 2026 US military budget is set at $901 billion, or about 3.3 per cent of GDP. Ahead of the summit, the Pentagon surprised allies by announcing a six-month review of the US presence. The agenda is expected to be focused on progress Europe is making to defend itself and if the US has full base access and overflight.