The U.S. military launched strikes on Iran early Wednesday, following accusations that Tehran attacked three ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. action also included revoking Iran’s ability to sell crude oil openly on the world market. In response, Iran targeted Bahrain and Kuwait with strikes, raising concerns about the potential breakdown of an interim agreement to halt fighting, which could lead to a wider conflict in the Middle East.
The recent hostilities coincided with the funeral for Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the start of the war. The funeral was expected to be a period of reduced tensions, but mourners have expressed hostility toward U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Negotiations for a final deal were supposed to commence post-funeral, addressing reopening the strait and Tehran’s nuclear program. The new attacks have placed these negotiations in jeopardy.
The era of bullying and extortion is over, said Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, on X. We don’t fold.
Overnight U.S. Strikes on Iran
According to the U.S. military’s Central Command, American forces executed the strikes to impose costs for targeting commercial shipping with civilian crews in an international waterway. Targets included Iranian air defense systems, radars, and over 60 small boats used by the Revolutionary Guard to disrupt shipping in the strait.
The U.S. military emphasized its readiness to hold Iran accountable for adherence to agreements. Iran acknowledged the strikes, while Iranian state media reported explosions in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, and Sirik.
Bahrain and Kuwait, hosting U.S. military forces, issued missile alerts following the retaliatory strikes from Iran. The Revolutionary Guard stated they targeted U.S. military sites in both countries. A prior series of Iranian attacks on shipping and U.S. counterstrikes had similarly stimulated Iranian responses targeting Bahrain and Kuwait.
Wednesday’s actions occurred as President Trump attended a NATO summit in Turkey.
U.S. Revokes Iranian Oil Sale License
The U.S. also revoked a license for Iranian oil sales, part of the interim agreement, which had permitted Iran to sell oil on the international market for U.S. dollars. Iran had been suspected of offering oil at below-market rates to China.
The decision followed the strikes on shipping. One tanker near Oman caught fire after being hit, according to the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations center. Iranian state TV reported the LNG tanker was attacked after ignoring warnings.
Despite damage, the other two ships in the Strait of Hormuz continued their journey. The U.K. maritime agency noted these ships opted for a route near Oman, contrasting with Tehran’s designated safe path, amidst suspicions of attacks on vessels using alternative routes.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry condemned an attack on the Qatari tanker Al Rekayyat as an unacceptable threat to international navigation and energy security, holding Iran legally accountable.
The interim deal between Iran and the U.S. involved permitting ship passage without fees for 60 days, with Tehran insisting on controlling routes and later charging passage fees. This stance challenges long-standing practices in the Strait of Hormuz, with the U.S. and Gulf Arab states opposing Iran’s proposed fees.