US strikes Iran after Hormuz tanker attacks

U.S. Central Command said U.S. forces have begun launching a series of “powerful strikes” against Iran in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The operation was described as an effort to impose heavy costs for targeting commercial shipping crewed by civilians in an international waterway. The strikes were initiated on Tuesday evening local time, shortly after reports of multiple vessel attacks in and near the strategic chokepoint. The action marks a sharp escalation in military activity around a corridor that carries a significant share of global oil and gas flows.

Explosions and strikes were reported in several southern Iranian locations, including Bandar Abbas, Sirik and Qeshm Island. U.S. officials said the strikes were aimed at Iranian military and maritime systems involved in targeting shipping. Reported targets included air‑defense and coastal surveillance sites, ground‑to‑air missile batteries and launch sites for anti‑ship cruise missiles and drones, as well as Iranian port facilities. The scope of damage on the ground had not been fully detailed in early reports.

The U.S. strikes followed a cluster of attacks on three commercial vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz. One of the ships hit was a Qatari liquefied natural gas carrier named Al Rekayyat. The International Maritime Organization said the vessel was struck off the Omani coast. Qatar’s foreign ministry identified Iran as responsible for the attack and condemned the strike on the LNG carrier.

Another vessel reported damaged was a Saudi‑flagged crude tanker transiting the same area. Saudi Arabia said the incident was an assault on the security and safety of international navigation. The combined attacks on the Qatari gas carrier and the Saudi oil tanker were described as the most significant series of maritime incidents since an interim understanding between the United States and Iran had been in place to reduce such hostilities. These events heightened unease among shipowners operating in the region.

In parallel with the military response, the United States revoked a sanctions waiver that had allowed Iran to sell oil for a defined period. The move effectively reimposed tighter restrictions on Iranian oil exports as part of Washington’s retaliation. The cancellation of the authorization came the same day as the attacks on the commercial vessels and the subsequent strikes.

Oil prices rose following the disruptions and policy shift. Brent crude (UKOIL) and U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (USOIL) advanced several percent as traders reacted to the heightened risk around the Strait of Hormuz and the prospect of reduced Iranian supply. Market participants focused on both the physical threat to tankers passing through the waterway and the potential impact of renewed U.S. sanctions enforcement on Iran’s export volumes.

The attacks on the Qatari and Saudi vessels underscored the vulnerability of energy shipments that depend on the Strait of Hormuz. Qatar, a major liquefied natural gas exporter, publicly held Iran fully legally responsible for the strike on Al Rekayyat. Saudi Arabia framed the damage to its crude tanker as part of a broader threat to international maritime security. These reactions highlighted concern among Gulf producers over the safety of key export routes.

The combination of vessel attacks, U.S. strikes inside Iran and a tougher sanctions stance raised the perceived risk premium on regional shipping. Shipowners and charterers faced increased uncertainty about routing decisions and insurance costs for cargoes passing near Iranian waters. While the immediate focus remained on the damaged ships and military exchanges, markets also began to assess how prolonged tension in the strait could affect global energy flows if similar incidents continue.