Key facts
- The U.S. military launched strikes against Iran targeting over 80 sites.
- U.S. strikes targeted defense systems and Revolutionary Guard boats.
- The strikes were in response to Iran's attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
- The U.S. Treasury revoked a general license authorizing the sale of Iranian oil.
- Iran claims the U.S. actions violate a peace agreement and memorandum of understanding.
- At least four oil and gas tankers have diverted from the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for missile and drone operations in Bahrain and Kuwait.
- Air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain and Kuwait amid reported missile and drone attacks.
- NATO foreign ministers will meet with Gulf Arab counterparts to discuss Hormuz Strait tensions.
- Explosions were reported on Iran's Qeshm and Kharg Islands.
- Qatar summoned Iran's deputy ambassador over a tanker attack.
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian returned to Iran from Iraq.
The U.S. military has conducted strikes against Iran, targeting over 80 sites including defense systems and Revolutionary Guard boats. These strikes were a direct response to Iran's attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. Treasury Department has also revoked a general license that authorized the sale of Iranian oil, a move that Iran contends violates a recent memorandum of understanding and a peace agreement. U.S. officials cited Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz as "wholly unacceptable" reasons for reinstating sanctions.
In the wake of these developments, at least four oil and gas tankers have altered their course to avoid the Strait of Hormuz due to heightened safety concerns. This follows damage sustained by a Qatari LNG tanker and a Saudi crude tanker. Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for missile and drone operations targeting U.S. military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait, and stated they shot down a U.S. MQ9 drone. Air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain and Kuwait as both nations reported responding to hostile missile and drone attacks. Bahrain's Interior Ministry urged citizens to seek safety, while Kuwait's army confirmed its air defense systems were active.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf criticized the U.S. for violating a ceasefire agreement, citing renewed attacks in southern Iran, reinstated oil sanctions, and continued Israeli actions in Lebanon. He asserted that the era of bullying is over and Iran will not yield. Iranian media reported renewed explosions on Qeshm Island and fresh blasts on Kharg Island, following U.S. strikes on Iranian weapon launch sites and air defenses. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has returned to Iran from Iraq amidst these U.S. strikes on Iranian installations, which targeted radar and drone sites.
NATO foreign ministers are scheduled to convene with their Gulf Arab counterparts to discuss escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. A multinational maritime mission proposal, which Iran has rejected, is expected to be on the agenda. Qatar has summoned Iran's deputy ambassador to protest the targeting of a Qatari LNG tanker near the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a serious violation of international law and a threat to global energy supplies. A report indicates that while the conflict has negatively impacted Asian economies, China has emerged in a more advantageous position due to the ongoing crisis.