Iran has claimed responsibility for launching attacks on 85 US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait, retaliating against fresh US strikes on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that strikes were carried out to impose heavy costs on Iran for targeting commercial shipping vessels carrying civilian crews in an international waterway. The UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that multiple oil tankers were targeted during the latest incidents.
Iran's Retaliation and Ceasefire Violations
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) described its military action as retaliation for what it called a violation of the ceasefire agreement by the United States. CENTCOM stated: “Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire.” The strikes came hours after Washington announced it would reinstate sanctions on Iran over attacks on commercial ships in the region.
Escalation After Peace Agreement
The escalation follows renewed tensions after the US and Iran accused each other of breaching the terms of a ceasefire reached in late June. Days after US President Donald Trump signed a peace agreement with Iran, CENTCOM announced it had carried out strikes against multiple targets in the country. The command said Iran had been given an opportunity to respect the ceasefire but failed after its forces launched a one-way drone attack on the Panama-flagged tanker MT Kiku.
Trump's Warning and Iran's Accusations
President Trump had earlier warned that “the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist” if it continued violations of the peace agreement. Iran, however, accused the US of violating the ceasefire by allowing continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon, which Tehran said breached a condition of the agreement. On June 20, Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz was closed again and accused Washington of violating ceasefire terms. The country said vessels would require permission to pass through the strategic waterway and raised the possibility of imposing charges on ships using the route.
It remains unclear whether the reported restrictions on shipping contributed to the recent attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
