ALERT: US launches strikes against Iran, reinstates sanctions
International Briefing:
Governments, analysts, and media outlets are continuing to follow this situation closely as additional details become available.
Tensions have risen a notch in the Strait of Hormuz. The United States announced on Tuesday evening the launch of a series of “powerful strikes” against Iran as well as the reestablishment of American sanctions on Iranian oil. Washington claims to be responding to several attacks targeting commercial ships in this strategic area. Iranian state media have confirmed a series of explosions. According to the IRIB news channel, six explosions were heard on the Iranian island of Qeshm, seven in the town of Sirik and others in the large port city of Bandar Abbas (south). “Iran sends a serious warning about the consequences of the violation of the treaty by the United States and will take decisive measures to protect its interests and national security,” declared the ministry in a statement published on Telegram by state television (Irib). “Iran’s actions are unacceptable” The American military command for the Middle East (Centcom) indicated that it had launched a “series of powerful strikes” in retaliation for “Iranian attacks”, described as “a blatant violation of ceasefire.” An American official also declared that “Iran’s actions in the strait are totally unacceptable in the eyes of the United States and will not go unpunished”, while Washington now prohibits “new transactions” in Iranian hydrocarbons as of Tuesday. Saudi Arabia condemned “the targeting by the Islamic Republic of Iran of the Saudi oil tanker Wedyan” as well as that of “the Qatari LNG carrier Al-Rakayyat”, denouncing “an attack on the security of international navigation and to the security of global energy supplies. Qatar summoned the Iranian charge d’affaires and handed him a note asking Tehran to “immediately cease all practices undermining regional security”, while demanding “explanations on this attack”. Iran denounced, through its spokesperson Esmaïl Baghaï, an “unacceptable” accusation. Strikes in the middle of a national funeral Without naming anyone responsible, the British agency UKMTO also reported an oil tanker damaged by an unidentified projectile and a tanker hit by a drone of unknown origin. The agency specifies that no injuries or environmental damage were noted in the three incidents. The Axios site also claims that Iran “fired at least two missiles at commercial ships”, citing two American officials. Our file on the war in Iran This new deterioration of the situation comes as Iran has been organizing a six-day national funeral since Saturday for its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, killed on the first day of the war during Israeli-American strikes. His body arrived in Iraq for processions in Najaf and Karbala.
What Happens Next:
Experts suggest the long-term impact of these developments may become clearer as more information emerges.
Global audiences continue following the story closely as regional responses begin to emerge.
More details may emerge as official sources continue releasing new information.
Source: This article was originally published by 20Minutes – Actu Monde and adapted for our international English-speaking audience.
Read the original article here.