U.S. Airstrikes Hit Iranian Ports After Vessel Attacks; Sanctions-Relief Talks Paused

U.S. Central Command began launching strikes on July 7 against targets in Iran including command centers, air defense systems, radar installations, drone storage facilities, IRGC boats and missile launchers at sites on Qeshm Island, in Bandar Abbas, on Sirik Island and in Bandar-e-Jask. Explosions were reported in the southern Iranian port city of Sirik, on Qeshm Island and in Bandar Abbas.

Fires broke out at the Port of Shahid Haqqani in Bandar Abbas, leaving the port facility ablaze. The strikes came in response to attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. An anonymous U.S.

Official told Reuters that the targets included Iran’s air defence systems, coastal surveillance systems, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles and drone launch sites. No further details on casualties or the extent of damage were immediately available. The U.S.

Treasury revoked a licence that had allowed Iran to sell oil, reinstating pre-negotiation sanctions. The revoked licence had formed part of a 14-point memorandum of understanding signed last month that committed both sides to negotiating a final deal within 60 days.

The memorandum declared that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon and committed to the creation of a $300 billion fund for the reconstruction of Iran.

The Treasury allowed a wind-down period for transactions authorised under the licence. U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with Iranian negotiators in Switzerland last month. Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said Qatar held Iran fully responsible for an attack on the vessel Al-Rekayyat.

The strikes are the first U.S. military strikes on Iran since late last month. The operators of the three attacked vessels have not been publicly identified by the U.S. government, and no publicly released evidence has documented the specific nature of the vessel attacks.