The US military announced on Wednesday that it was conducting fresh strikes on Iran to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open to maritime traffic. This comes hours after President Donald Trump declared that an interim agreement to end the war with Iran was "over."
Iranian Attacks and US Retaliation
In a significant escalation that sent oil prices up by about 7%, Iran claimed on Wednesday that it had struck US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait. This triggered retaliatory strikes from the United States. The escalation began with Iran's attacks on Tuesday on three cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
"At the direction of the Commander in Chief, US Central Command forces have started conducting additional strikes against Iran to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," US Central Command wrote in a post on X announcing the fresh round of strikes.
"The United States is holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway," the statement added.
Strategic Importance of the Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint through which about a fifth of the world's oil supplies pass. Control of this waterway has given Tehran immense leverage, effectively allowing it to force a stalemate with the world's most powerful military. Although Iran has not claimed responsibility for the attacks on the cargo ships, analysts suggest that Tehran uses such actions to underscore its leverage while negotiating a long-term peace deal with the United States.
Impact on Ceasefire and Peace Deal
The latest exchange of strikes has rattled a shaky ceasefire agreement and dented hopes of turning the memorandum of understanding signed on June 17 into a permanent peace deal. The conflict began with US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28.
During a press conference in Ankara, Turkey, where he was attending a NATO summit, President Trump stated: "If we make a deal with Iran I'm not sure that will stick. I found them to be very dishonourable people."
However, Trump, who has repeatedly threatened to escalate military action before backing off, said he did not expect a return to full-fledged war. It remains unclear whether negotiations for a permanent deal will continue.
