The United States Army Central Command (CENTCOM) announced tonight (Wednesday) that the US military has launched a wave of powerful attacks against Iran.
The official announcement was made just minutes after Iran reported heavy explosions heard in the port of Qeshm, in Bandar Abbas, and in the area of the port city of Sirik.
The US military statement said: "US Central Command forces have launched a series of powerful strikes against Iran with the aim of imposing heavy costs for attacking and damaging commercial ships crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway.".
""The American attacks are in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial ships that were crossing the Strait of Hormuz.
""Iran's demonstrated aggression was unjustified, dangerous, and a blatant violation of the ceasefire.".
The background to the American strike was a report received from three commercial tankers, according to which they were hit by Iranian fire in the Strait of Hormuz and the area adjacent to it.
Iran even officially confirmed that its forces attacked at least one tanker carrying liquefied natural gas.
One of the vessels hit by Iranian missiles was a Qatari-owned gas tanker. Following the strike, Qatar summoned the Iranian ambassador for an urgent reprimand.
Following the attack, Washington earlier decided to renew sanctions prohibiting the sale of Iranian oil.
Following the escalation, oil prices jumped sharply by almost 41% percent.
Mohsen Rezaei, the military advisor to Supreme Leader Khamenei, said in an interview with Iranian television that Iran will have to take revenge on Israel and the US: "As long as America and Israel are in the region and in the Persian Gulf, we will not advance. These 'two people' must not get away with this in peace. They must pay a price.".
