U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Tuesday said American forces have begun launching a series of “powerful strikes” against Iran in response to Tehran’s attacks on commercial ships in an international waterway.

“U.S. Central Command forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway,” the command wrote on X. “The U.S. strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”

CENTCOM added, “Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire.”U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Tuesday that American forces have launched a series of “powerful strikes” against Iran in response to Tehran’s attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, marking the most significant U.S. military action against Iran since last month’s ceasefire agreement.

“U.S. Central Command forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway,” CENTCOM said in a statement posted on X.

“The U.S. strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”

CENTCOM described Iran’s actions as “unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire.”

According to U.S. officials, three merchant vessels were struck Tuesday in waters off Oman near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

As U.S. strikes continued across southern Iran, explosions were reported in the Bandar Abbas area, on Qeshm Island, and near Tahuyeh Port in Hormozgan Province.

A U.S. official told CNN the operation was intentionally designed to inflict significant damage.

“This is punishment,” the official said. “It won’t be over for a bit.”

The official added that the strikes were “not proportional,” signaling Washington intends to impose severe consequences for Iran’s latest actions.

In a parallel move, the Trump administration announced it is reimposing sanctions on Iranian oil sales, reversing one of the key concessions granted under last month’s memorandum of understanding. The sanctions had been lifted as part of an agreement that led Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil markets reacted immediately, with Brent crude futures surging more than 5% following the announcement.

The latest escalation threatens to derail ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz, addressing Iran’s nuclear program, and ending the conflict that erupted on Feb. 28.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)