US military strikes Iran after tanker attacks in Strait of Hormuz

US military strikes Iran after tanker attacks in Strait of Hormuz

The United States military launched a series of powerful strikes against Iran on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in response to attacks on three commercial oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The operation, coordinated by US Central Command (Centcom), targeted more than 80 sites, including command centers, radar installations, air defense systems, and over 60 small boats used by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

Iranian state media reported explosions and shrapnel injuries in Bandar Abbas, Sirik, and on Qeshm island. The US military stated the strikes were intended to impose heavy costs for the targeting of innocent civilians in an international waterway, describing the aggression as a clear violation of the ceasefire.

Iran retaliated on Wednesday, July 8, by launching missiles and drones at 85 key US military facilities across Bahrain and Kuwait, including an air base in Kuwait and a US Navy headquarters. Sirens sounded in Kuwait as air defenses engaged incoming fire. Kuwait condemned the repeated attacks, while Bahrain sounded missile alerts multiple times on Wednesday morning.

Shipping Attacks and Regional Accusations

The escalation follows a series of maritime incidents. The UKMTO reported that a tanker suffered a fire in its engine room after being hit by an unknown projectile on Monday, July 6. On Tuesday, another tanker reported minor structural damage, and a third reported being hit as it exited the strait.

Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari, held Iran fully legally responsible for a targeted attack on the liquefied natural gas tanker Al-Rekayyat. Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry similarly denounced an attack on the Saudi tanker Wadyan. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, dismissed Qatar's accusations as contrary to the principle of good neighbourliness, suggesting that vessels using routes not coordinated with Iran face risks of collision.

Collapse of the Interim Deal

The violence threatens a fragile 14-point memorandum of understanding signed last month to end conflict on all fronts and extend a ceasefire. Under this interim deal, the US Treasury had issued a June 22 general license allowing Iran to sell crude oil and petroleum products through August 21. On Tuesday, the US revoked this waiver, giving Tehran until July 17 to wind down transactions.

Iran's foreign ministry called the revocation a breach of the memorandum that proved the bad faith, inconsistency, and unreliability of the US government. Iran's speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, accused the US of breaching the agreement through oil sanctions, persistent threats of further strikes, and violating Iranian adjustments in the strait. He stated,

"The era of bullying and extortion is over. It leads nowhere. We don't fold."

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iranian Speaker, via X

NATO chief Mark Rutte, speaking at a summit in Ankara, Turkey, argued the American response was absolutely necessary because Iran was basically violating the ceasefire.

Political Tensions and Leadership Vacuum

The military exchange occurred during dayslong funeral ceremonies for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 during the opening moments of the war at age 86. Funeral events took place in the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala and the Iranian city of Qom. Mourners in Qom carried banners with messages such as KILL TRUMP.

While the late leader's coffin was moved to Najaf International airport on Tuesday night, his son and successor, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has not appeared publicly. He is believed to be in hiding after reports that he was wounded in the same airstrike that killed his father.

President Donald Trump, who stated on Monday that the US would either make a deal or finish the job, has previously aimed to destroy Iran's nuclear and missile programs. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that negotiations on a final deal not commence if threats continue.

The Struggle for the Strait

Control of the Strait of Hormuz remains a primary point of contention. Iran has sought to assert sovereignty by establishing the Persian Gulf Strait Authority to manage safe passage permits. While the interim deal allowed ships to pass without charges for 60 days, Fars news agency reported that a final agreement might see the strait managed by Iran in coordination with Oman, potentially including service fees for transit.

The US and several Gulf Arab states have indicated they will not agree to Iran charging for passage. Despite the renewed fighting, one anonymous US official insisted that negotiators would continue to work in good faith toward a final deal.