U.S. Retaliates Against Iran With Major Airstrikes and Reimposed Oil Sanctions

The United States has conducted a massive wave of retaliatory airstrikes against more than 80 Iranian military sites and moves to fully reinstate oil sanctions, effectively ending a brief period of de-escalation. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the strikes targeted air defense systems, drone launch sites, and coastal surveillance hubs in southern Iran, including locations on Sirik and Qeshm Islands. The military action comes as President Trump attends the NATO summit in Turkey, where regional maritime security has become a central focus. The escalation follows what U.S. officials described as a "clear violation" of the month-old Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Iran. The IRGC allegedly used missiles to target three commercial vessels, including Saudi and Qatari tankers, in the Strait of Hormuz. In response, the U.S. Treasury Department revoked a license that had allowed Iran to produce and export crude oil, a move that comes less than 20 days after the ceasefire was signed. The strikes also signal a shift in U.S. policy regarding diplomatic pauses; the military operation proceeded despite a previous promise by President Trump to halt kinetic actions during the seven-day funeral period for the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran’s Foreign Ministry has issued a formal warning, stating that the U.S. breach of the MoU will lead to decisive measures to protect Iranian national security.