The United States initiated a fresh round of CENTCOM air strikes on over 80 Iranian military sites while also rescinding a crucial Treasury license that permitted Tehran to trade oil. This move comes in response to Iran’s alleged attack on three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. American forces targeted various Iranian assets, including air defense systems, command networks, radar sites, and small boats of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the region.
CENTCOM stated that the strikes were a direct reaction to Iran’s recent assaults on commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The objective of the operation was to diminish Iran’s capacity to disrupt global trade in one of the world’s most vital maritime routes. The Pentagon reported that Iran had targeted three ships – M/T Al Rekayyat, M/T Wedyan, and M/T Cyprus Prosperity – violating the ceasefire agreement and endangering navigation freedom.
The military warned of further actions if Iran persisted in breaching the ceasefire terms. CENTCOM emphasized its readiness to enforce accountability if Iran failed to comply with the agreement. Preceding the strike announcement, the Treasury Department revoked General License X, replacing it with General License X1. This move terminated the authorization for Iranian oil transactions, restricting new purchases or loading of Iranian oil, petroleum, or petrochemical products after July 7.
The military operation and the reinstatement of oil sanctions reflect the Trump administration’s strategy to apply both military force and economic measures in response to perceived Iranian ceasefire violations.
