US launches ‘series of powerful strikes’ against Iran as fresh war fears erupt | World | News

The US has hit several targets after launching “a series of powerful strikes against Iran,” US Central Command said.

CENTCOM said in a separate message later in the day that it had hit “over 80 targets with precision munitions as an immediate response to Iran’s latest attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”

“U.S. forces struck Iranian air defense systems, command and control networks, coastal radar sites, anti-ship missile capabilities, and more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps small boats in and near the strait to degrade Iran’s ability to continue attacking international commerce flowing through the international trade corridor,” the statement continued.

Three civilian vessels were hit in the strait earlier on Tuesday, according to UN International Maritime Organisation figures.

Iran, which at the height of the conflict with the US tried to choke the passage of oil and gas through the strait, has not claimed any of the attacks.

Ending the stranglehold on the strategic waterway had been key in the negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

The CENTCOM statement read: “The unwarranted aggression by Iranian forces is a clear and dangerous violation of the ceasefire and undermines freedom of navigation.

“CENTCOM forces remain postured and prepared to hold Iran accountable when the agreement is not adhered to or obeyed.”

CENTCOM said earlier on Tuesday: “Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire.”

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump appeared to launch an ultimatum to Iran, saying “we’re either going to have a deal or we’re going to have a war”.

An initial, two-week ceasefire was agreed in April, and was later extended indefinitely. While it has prevented all-out resumption of hostilities, it remains precarious.

A preliminary memorandum of understanding covering the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief elements, and nuclear constraints was virtually signed last month, at the end of the G7 summit.

In a recent speech held as part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, Mr Trump boasted the US’ military operations, saying “we’ve had tremendous success”.

He added: “You look at Venezuela, you look at Iran. We wiped it out, wiped out their military.”