The United States launched military strikes on Iran early Wednesday after accusing Tehran of attacking three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, targeting Iranian air defence systems, radars and more than 60 small boats used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Iran later appeared to retaliate with strikes aimed at Bahrain and Kuwait, triggering missile alerts and sharply escalating regional tensions. Washington also revoked a licence allowing Iran to openly sell crude oil on the global market, raising fresh questions over the survival of an interim agreement intended to halt fighting and pave the way for negotiations.

US Strikes Iranian Military Targets After Attacks On Ships

The US military’s Central Command said American forces carried out the strikes to impose costs on Iran for allegedly targeting commercial vessels carrying civilian crews through an international waterway.

“To impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway,” Central Command said while explaining the purpose of the operation.

According to the US military, the strikes targeted Iranian air defence systems, radar installations and more than 60 small boats operated by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

The Revolutionary Guard vessels have been accused of playing a central role in harassing commercial ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.

Central Command said US forces remained “postured and prepared to hold Iran accountable when the agreement is not adhered to or obeyed”, while announcing that the latest round of military operations had concluded.

Iran Reports Explosions, Vows ‘Decisive’ Response

Iran acknowledged the US strikes but did not disclose details of casualties or damage.

Iranian state media reported explosions in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm and Sirik following the American military operation.

Iran’s central military command condemned the strikes and said its forces would respond.

It “will respond decisively to this aggression and terrorist act”, the command said.

“Under no circumstances will (the Iranian armed forces) allow interference in the affairs of the Strait of Hormuz, nor will they permit others to manage it,” it added.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also rejected pressure from Washington.

“The era of bullying and extortion is over. It leads nowhere. We don’t fold,” Ghalibaf wrote on X.

Tehran separately warned the United States that it would “take whatever measures it deems necessary”.

Missile Alerts Sounded In Bahrain And Kuwait

Iran later appeared to launch retaliatory attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait, where US military forces are stationed.

Missile alerts were sounded in Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy’s 5th Fleet, and Kuwait, where US Army forces are deployed.

The latest escalation followed a similar cycle of violence late last month, when Iranian attacks on commercial shipping prompted US retaliatory strikes, followed by attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait.

Wednesday’s military confrontation unfolded while US President Donald Trump was attending the NATO summit in Turkey.

Washington Revokes Licence Allowing Iranian Oil Sales

Alongside the military strikes, Washington revoked a licence that had allowed Iran to openly sell crude oil on international markets under the interim agreement.

The arrangement had enabled Tehran to conduct oil transactions openly in US dollars for the first time in years.

Iran had previously been suspected of selling sanctioned crude oil to China at below-market prices.

The US decision to withdraw the licence followed the attacks on commercial vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.

Three Ships Attacked Near Strait Of Hormuz

According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre, three ships were attacked while travelling through waters near the Strait of Hormuz.

One tanker travelling off the coast of Oman was hit by a projectile and caught fire.

Iranian state television reported that the liquefied natural gas tanker had been attacked after ignoring warnings, although Tehran did not directly claim responsibility.

The other two ships sustained some damage but continued travelling through the strait. No injuries were reported.

The three vessels appeared to have been using a shipping route close to Oman’s coast instead of a route designated by Iran.

Tehran has repeatedly insisted that only its approved route through the Strait of Hormuz is safe and is suspected of targeting ships using the route near Oman.

Qatar Holds Iran Responsible For Attack On Tanker

Qatar condemned an attack on the Qatari tanker Al Rekayyat, describing it as a threat to international navigation and global energy security.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari called the incident an “unacceptable attack” and said Doha held Iran “fully legally responsible”.

Under the interim agreement between Iran and the United States, commercial vessels were to be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without charges for 60 days.

Iran, however, insisted that it should control shipping routes through the waterway and later impose passage fees.

The United States and several Gulf Arab countries have rejected Tehran’s demand to charge vessels for passage through the strait.

Strait Of Hormuz Disruptions Threaten Global Energy Markets

Since the war began, Iran has maintained significant control over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global energy markets.

Around one-fifth of globally traded oil and natural gas passed through the waterway during peacetime, making it one of the world’s most important energy transit routes.

Disagreements over shipping routes and Iran’s demand to control vessel movements have remained central obstacles to negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

Escalation Casts Doubt Over Iran-US Negotiations

The latest attacks occurred during the dayslong funeral ceremonies for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 during the opening phase of the war at the age of 86.

The funeral ceremonies, scheduled to conclude on Thursday, had been viewed as a period when military tensions could temporarily ease.

Talks on a final agreement were expected to begin after Khamenei’s burial and focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and rolling back Iran’s disputed nuclear programme.

The renewed military confrontation, Iranian retaliation and Washington’s decision to revoke Iran’s oil sales licence have now placed the fragile interim agreement under further pressure.

The escalation has also deepened uncertainty over commercial shipping security, global energy supplies and the prospects for future negotiations between Iran and the United States.

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