The US has started “additional strikes” after Iran’s “recent unjustified aggression” on civilian crews in the Strait of Hormuz
Donald Trump has directed the US military to launch fresh assaults on Iranian targets, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM).
The United States has commenced “additional strikes” in response to Iran’s “recent unjustified aggression” towards civilian crews, according to the Express.
A statement from Central Command read: “At the direction of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command forces have started conducting additional strikes against Iran to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
“The United States is holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway.”
On 7 July, the US Command confirmed that numerous targets had been struck following “a series of powerful strikes”, triggered by alleged Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The Command subsequently confirmed that “over 80 targets” had been hit.
According to UN International Maritime Organisation figures, three civilian vessels were struck in the strait earlier on Tuesday. Iran, however, did not claim any of the attacks.
President Trump appeared to issue a stark ultimatum to Iran earlier this week, declaring “we’re either going to have a deal or we’re going to have a war”. Speaking at the NATO summit in Turkey yesterday and today (7 July and 8 July), the president stated: “If we make a deal with Iran, I’m not sure that will stick because I found them to be very dishonourable. We hit them very hard last night, very, very hard,” before adding that the US will “probably hit them hard again tonight”.
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His remarks regarding the precarious ceasefire triggered a further surge in oil prices. Brent crude climbed approximately 6.5% to $79 a barrel on Wednesday morning following Mr Trump’s declaration that the ceasefire had collapsed.
Sitting alongside the alliance’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, Trump said he was “very upset” with NATO, threatening to cut off all trade with Spain in a row over defence spending. Since, the U.S. has fired strikes at more than 80 Iranian targets around the strait of Hormuz.
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