Dubai, UAE — The United States launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iran early Wednesday, hitting more than 80 military targets despite an apparent understanding that military operations would pause during funeral ceremonies for Iran’s slain supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The attacks came as Khamenei’s funeral procession continued in Iraq, where thousands gathered in the holy city of Najaf after his coffin arrived from Tehran.
Iranian officials accused Washington of violating the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that halted weeks of fighting and warned the strikes would trigger a “crushing response.”
US says strikes followed tanker attacks
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces struck more than 80 targets using precision-guided munitions after accusing Iran of attacking three civilian-crewed commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.
According to CENTCOM, the targets included Iranian air defence systems, command-and-control networks, coastal radar sites and anti-ship missile capabilities. It also said more than 60 boats belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were hit to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping through the strategic waterway.
The US identified the three vessels as the Marshall Islands-flagged M/T Al Rekayyat, the Saudi Arabia-flagged M/T Wedyan and the Liberian-flagged M/T Cyprus Prosperity.
Washington described the alleged attacks as “unwarranted aggression” and said its forces remained prepared to hold Iran accountable if the terms of the agreement were violated.
Iran has neither confirmed nor denied carrying out the reported attacks on the vessels.
Iran says attacks violated agreement
Iran’s military condemned the US operation as a “blatant act of aggression” carried out while funeral ceremonies for Khamenei were under way.
In a statement, the Khatam-al-Anbiya Central Headquarters accused Washington of failing to honour the memorandum reached between the two countries and pledged that Iran’s armed forces would deliver a “crushing response”.
The military also reiterated Tehran’s position that it would not allow outside powers to interfere in the management of the Strait of Hormuz.
“It is reiterated that the only safe passage for commercial ships and oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz is the route designated by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the statement said.
Multiple sites hit in southern Iran
Iranian media reported explosions across several strategic locations overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, including Sirik, Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island and Kharg Island.
Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera correspondent Tohid Asadi said authorities reported between seven and nine strikes around the port of Sirik, while at least 10 explosions were heard in Bandar Abbas.
Several people were reported injured after strikes near the commercial port of Sirik and were taken to hospital in the nearby city of Minab. Iranian state broadcaster IRIB said most of the attacks had struck civilian areas.
Iranian military officials said the attacks demonstrated Washington’s lack of commitment to the memorandum and repeated that only Iran would determine safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Sanctions dispute deepens tensions
The latest military action came alongside a renewed economic confrontation after the United States announced it would reimpose sanctions on Iranian oil exports from July 17.
US officials said the waiver introduced after the signing of the memorandum would be withdrawn because Iran had allegedly failed to comply with its commitments.
Iran rejected that argument.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the renewed sanctions violated multiple provisions of the agreement and warned Tehran would take “decisive actions” to safeguard its national interests and security.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry also condemned the US decision, accusing Washington of repeatedly breaching the memorandum through both the restoration of sanctions and continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon.
Funeral continues in Iraq
The renewed fighting overshadowed ceremonies marking the final journey of Khamenei’s body through Iraq before its return to Iran for burial.
His coffin arrived at Najaf International Airport on Tuesday night, where Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian joined Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and other senior officials for funeral rites.
Following the ceremony, Pezeshkian returned to Tehran after the latest US strikes, according to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB. Khamenei’s coffin is due to travel from Najaf to Karbala before returning to the Iranian city of Mashhad for burial on Thursday.
The latest exchange has cast fresh doubt over the durability of the US-Iran memorandum, with both sides accusing the other of violating its terms only days after it was intended to halt open hostilities.
