On Tuesday, the United States initiated fresh airstrikes targeting Iranian positions, dampening any expectations that recent skirmishes over the weekend might not escalate into a broader conflict. This marked the first direct exchange of hostilities since July, following reports of attacks on two tankers departing from the vital Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil transport that Iran has effectively restricted.
In response, Tehran maintained a resolute stance, asserting its intention to obstruct oil exports from the Gulf. This came despite former President Donald Trump’s warning of a severe response to Iran’s renewed military actions, as well as a caution from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent regarding impending new sanctions.
U.S. Central Command announced on X that at 12 p.m. ET (1600 GMT), American forces commenced strikes against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran. The military action was a direct response to recent IRGC attempts to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and threats posed to U.S. personnel stationed in the region.
Iranian state media reported explosions occurring on Qeshm Island, located on the northern shore of the Strait. Additionally, the state-affiliated Nour News agency indicated explosions in the major port city of Bandar Abbas and the southern port of Chabahar.
The ongoing six-month conflict had transitioned into an economic deadlock prior to the weekend’s confrontations, which included U.S. strikes on Larak Island and Iranian missile attacks aimed at two American airbases in Jordan. Despite issuing warnings regarding Iranian actions, President Biden emphasized to reporters that these developments did not signify a return to all-out war. A senior Iranian official described the situation as a “limited and contained confrontation.”
Trump, however, issued alarming threats via social media, cautioning that any Iranian retaliation to the latest U.S. strikes would provoke an even stronger response. He ominously stated, “they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level,” implying that a more significant attack was on standby, which, if executed, would leave little of the Islamic Republic of Iran intact.
This stark warning echoed previous threats from Trump that could be construed as war crimes, including suggestions to target critical civilian infrastructure and remarks about reverting Iran “back to the Stone Ages.” Earlier, he had ominously stated that “a whole civilization will die tonight” unless a peace agreement was reached.
In Iran, the Fars news agency reported comments from an IRGC spokesperson indicating that the U.S. would “regret its new attacks.” Recent vows from both sides to retaliate to further hostilities have underscored the volatility of a situation that, having largely been fought through economic sanctions and pressure, risks escalating back into military engagement.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian remarked early Tuesday that Tehran would respond promptly if the U.S. honored its commitments under a June memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at halting the conflict. This MOU was intended to cease hostilities that have resulted in significant casualties in Iran and Lebanon since U.S. and Israeli strikes began on February 28, though it deferred many complex issues and allowed for a broader negotiation period of 60 days that ultimately yielded no further agreements.
Pezeshkian stated at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, “If the U.S. returns to its commitments under the memorandum, the Islamic Republic of Iran will immediately reciprocate.” Nonetheless, Iranian officials have displayed no signs of yielding to external pressures.
Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, was quoted by local media as saying, “If the enemy wants us not to export oil from the Persian Gulf, no one will be able to export oil.” He further noted that any intensification of the U.S. “siege” would be met with a military response from Tehran.
Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, stated during a press conference in Tehran that Washington was “addicted to making excessive demands” and had confused negotiations with dictating terms. He warned that as long as the U.S. continued this approach, they would see no outcomes other than those already achieved, asserting that Tehran would utilize all available resources, whether on the battlefield or through diplomatic channels.
Reporting contributed by Reuters.
