US resumes 'powerful' strikes on Iran after accusing regime of attacks on three vessels in Strait of Hormuz
State media says that six projectiles have hit the south of Iran but provided no information about damage or casualties
The US military has resumed strikes on targets in Iran after accusing the regime of striking three tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
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US Central Command said in a post on X on Tuesday, adding that the strikes were in response to what it said were Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state media has reported that six projectiles have hit the area of Taheroui Pier in the south of the country.
Other explosions were reported in the port city of Sirik, Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas, but media provided no immediate details on the cause of the blasts or any casualties or damage.
CENTCOM confirmed on X: "US 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.
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"The US strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire."
Donald Trump reimposed oil sanctions on the regime in retaliation to the attacks, which the White House says was "wholly unacceptable".
Oil prices were up more than 5% following the announcement. The US Treasury had authorised Iran's oil sales until August 21 as part of the fragile agreement between Tehran and Washington.
The reimposing of sanctions on Tuesday revocation cuts the wind-down period to July 17.
The new action against Iran came after a day in which huge crowds mourned Iran's slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the holy city of Qom.
The war between the US and Iran has been paused under the interim peace deal reached last month, intended to provide a 60-day period for negotiations on a permanent deal.
A round of indirect talks in Qatar ended last week with no sign of headway towards a lasting peace.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to resume bombing, most recently on Monday when he told reporters in the Oval Office: "We're either going to make a deal or we're going to finish the job..... We can knock down their bridges in one hour, we can knock out their energy supply."
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that under the terms of the interim ceasefire memorandum, negotiations on the final deal would "not commence if threats continue".
In launching the war four months ago, Trump said his aims were to destroy Iran's nuclear and missile programmes, end its ability to threaten its neighbours and create conditions for Iranians to topple their leaders.
None of those goals has been met, although Washington says a permanent deal will halt what it says is an Iranian programme that could make a nuclear bomb, which Iran says it never sought.