United States punishes Iran with 'powerful strikes' in retaliation to ceasefire violations

Iranian state media said five explosions have been heard in the south of the country, near the crucial waterway.

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

"The US strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire," it added in a statement on social media.

Several explosions have been heard in southern port city Sirik, Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas.

A anonymous US official told Reuters the US had targeted Iran's air defence systems, coastal surveillance systems, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles and drone launch sites in the strikes.

UK Maritime Trade Operations noted the strikes on oil tankers occurred in a 24-hour period on Monday and Tuesday.

Iran has not yet claimed responsibility for the incident.

But Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said it held Iran "fully responsible" for an attack on a vessel named Al-Rekayyat as it transited the strait.

Separately, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry said Iran also targeted a Saudi crude oil tanker called Wadyan.

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei has only responded to Qatar's claims, describing them as "contrary to the principle of good neighbourliness".

He added that Iran had been diligently meeting its commitments, but warned commercial vessels which took routes not coordinated with Iran risked collision and disrupted efforts to "facilitate safe transit" in the strait.

Earlier on Tuesday, a US official said the strikes were "wholly unacceptable".

A separate US official said initial indications suggested Iran struck three vessels in the waterway.

The strikes are the first US military strikes on Iran since late last month.

The US Treasury also revoked a licence which allowed Iran to sell oil, reinstating pre-negotiation sanctions.

The revoked US licence was included as part of the memorandum of understanding, signed last month.

The Treasury has allowed a "wind down" period for transactions which authorised as part of the licence it said in a published note.

Speaking on condition of anonymity before the announcement of the strikes, a US official said US negotiators would continue to work in "good faith" towards an agreement with Iran.

The existing 14-point memorandum of understanding was intended to put an end to all conflicts "on all fronts".

It also declares that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon and commits to the creation of a $300billion fund for the reconstruction of the country.

US Vice President JD Vance met with Iranian negotiators in Switzerland last month, saying they set a "good foundation for a successful final deal".