USA strikes Iran. Is the ceasefire over?

After the cessation of hostilities between the USA and Iran, the parties have resumed strikes.

On the morning of July 8, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that American air forces carried out dozens of strikes on Iranian territory. Iranian authorities described these strikes as a “flagrant violation” of the agreements reached between the countries.

According to CENTCOM’s statement, U.S. forces conducted a series of precision strikes on Iranian targets in response to Iran’s attacks on three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, hitting more than 80 targets. CENTCOM reported that among the targeted sites were air defense systems, command and communication networks, coastal radar stations, anti-ship missile systems, as well as over 60 small vessels of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) located in the strait and its vicinity. The aim of the strikes was to weaken Iran’s ability to attack vessels engaged in international trade through the strait.

For its part, Iranian authorities emphasized that the U.S. strikes and the simultaneous cancellation of temporary exemptions on Iranian oil exports, which are key points of the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the U.S., were violated, including provisions related to the suspension of hostilities for 60 days. Tehran warned that these actions would have serious consequences.

Iranian state media reported consecutive explosions in the port of Bandar Abbas, on Qeshm Island, and in the Sirik area. According to local sources, several people were injured and hospitalized as a result of the explosion and rocket shrapnel.

According to the American publication Axios, citing an American official, U.S. President Donald Trump personally approved a plan to strike Iran during his trip to Turkey for the NATO summit and issued the corresponding order. According to this source, Washington described this operation as a response to Iran’s attacks on commercial vessels. However, Iran denied its involvement in the attack on these three oil tankers.

The incident occurs against the backdrop of ongoing farewell ceremonies and funerals for the former leader of Iran, as well as growing concerns about the escalation of conflict in the region and its impact on the security of the Strait of Hormuz and the global oil market.