World Affairs
U.S. launches fresh strikes on Iran around Strait of Hormuz
The new operation followed Sunday's exchange and deepened concern about shipping and oil flows through the critical waterway.
Executive summary
- The new strikes: U.S. forces began striking Iranian targets at noon Eastern time Tuesday, expanding the renewed fighting beyond Sunday's exchange.Associated Press — U.S. begins fresh strikes on IranReuters — U.S. launches fresh strikes around Hormuz
- The stated trigger: U.S. Central Command said the operation followed attempted attacks by Iran's Revolutionary Guard against commercial shipping and American service members in the region.Associated Press — U.S. begins fresh strikes on IranReuters — U.S. launches fresh strikes around Hormuz
- The market risk: Oil had already risen more than 2% Tuesday, while visible vessel traffic through the strait remained far below recent norms.Reuters — oil rises on renewed U.S.-Iran strikes
- What is unknown: The initial U.S. announcement did not identify every target or provide a casualty assessment, and Iran had not immediately detailed the effects of the new strikes.Associated Press — U.S. begins fresh strikes on IranReuters — U.S. launches fresh strikes around Hormuz
The United States launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iranian targets around the Strait of Hormuz at noon Eastern time Tuesday, widening a renewed military exchange that had already pushed oil prices higher. U.S. Central Command said the operation followed recent attempted attacks by Iran's Revolutionary Guard against commercial shipping and American service members in the region.Associated Press — U.S. begins fresh strikes on IranReuters — U.S. launches fresh strikes around Hormuz
The Associated Press and Reuters independently reported the new operation. The initial U.S. announcement did not identify every target or provide a casualty assessment. Iranian state media reported explosions near the southern port city of Bandar Abbas but did not immediately provide details, leaving the full scope and effects of the strikes unclear.Associated Press — U.S. begins fresh strikes on IranReuters — U.S. launches fresh strikes around Hormuz
The escalation followed U.S. strikes Sunday on Iranian rocket launchers near the strait, the first American military action against Iran in about a month. The Associated Press reported that Iranian state television later said Iran fired ballistic missiles at U.S. bases in Jordan in response. The new Tuesday strikes make clear that the weekend exchange was not an isolated event.Associated Press — U.S. strikes Iranian launchersAssociated Press — U.S. begins fresh strikes on IranReuters — U.S. launches fresh strikes around Hormuz
Oil prices had risen more than 2% before the fresh strikes were announced. Brent crude futures were up 2.4% at $92.66 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate was up 2.9% at $88.24 by 1302 GMT, Reuters reported. The Strait of Hormuz carried about one-fifth of global oil supplies before the war, while Kpler data cited by Reuters showed about five visible commodity vessels transiting Monday, versus a recent daily average near 14.Reuters — oil rises on renewed U.S.-Iran strikes
Two supertankers carrying Saudi oil were struck by unknown projectiles Monday while transiting the strait, Reuters reported, without establishing responsibility. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also said Tuesday that Iran would reciprocate if the United States returned to its interim peace-agreement commitments. Those diplomatic signals remain unresolved, and the latest military action raises the risk of further disruption without establishing that physical oil losses will deepen.Associated Press — Iran ceasefire statementReuters — oil rises on renewed U.S.-Iran strikes