How Iran uses the Strait of Hormuz to pressure the US

Has the fragile US-Iran ceasefire collapsed?

The Iran war has reignited after Tehran struck at least three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, according to US and maritime officials.The attacks, which targeted a Saudi oil tanker and a Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, prompted the United States to revoke the temporary sanctions waiver on Iranian oil exports.

This major concession in the memorandum of understanding (MOU) agreed by the US and Iran last month allowed Tehran to restart oil exports after its tankers were halted by a US Navy blockade.

In further retaliation, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Wednesday it had struck more than 80 targets in Iran, including air defense systems, radars, and over 60 small boats used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to harass shipping.

CENTCOM said it wanted to "impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway."