U.S. Strikes Iran and Revokes Oil Waiver After Ships Attacked in Strait of Hormuz

U.S. military forces launched more strikes on Iran on Thursday than at any other point since a fragile ceasefire took effect. U.S. forces opened fire on Iranian positions after Iran attacked ships in the Strait of Hormuz that did not follow its rules.

Officials said the strikes followed Iran's attempt to enforce what it described as sovereignty over the waterway. An interim deal signed three weeks ago required the strait to reopen to pre-war traffic levels and left future management open to further negotiation between the two sides. Four and a half months earlier, U.S.

Forces struck Iran after weeks of threats. Officials at the time described the operation as a short conflict expected to last a few weeks. Public statements from U.S. officials listed goals including stopping Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and degrading its missile capabilities.

The interim deal omitted any reference to missile capabilities. On February 27, the day before the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, the Strait of Hormuz was an open and free-flowing shipping channel.

"Both sides hold different interpretations of the memorandum of understanding," Sanam Vakil, director of Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa program, said. Danny Citrinowicz, a former head of the Iran division of Israel's military intelligence establishment, posted that Iran has no intention of returning to the February 28 status quo.

The 60-day timeframe set to reach a final deal is nearly halfway complete.