People enjoy the beach in May as a vessel is seen waiting to cross the Strait of Hormuz in the Arabian Sea off Muscat, Oman. The United States launched new strikes against Iran on Tuesday after alleged Iranian strikes against vessels in the strait. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI | License Photo
July 7 (UPI) -- U.S. Central Command said Tuesday evening that it launched "a series of powerful strikes" against Iran in response to Iranian attacks on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The attacks were "to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway," Central Command said in a social media post. "Iran's demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous and a clear violation of the cease-fire."
The United States also reimposed sanctions on Iranian oil sales in retaliation for the attacks. The Treasury Department revoked waivers allowing Iran to sell oil and petrochemicals, CBS News reported.
Iran said the sanctions were "in clear violation" of the memorandum of understanding to end the conflict between Iran and the United States that was signed in June. Iran's Foreign Ministry said it "holds the U.S. government responsible for this breach of commitment," CNN reported.
