Security in the Strait of Hormuz deteriorated sharply on Wednesday after the United States launched a fresh wave of strikes against Iranian military targets in response to attacks on commercial shipping, prompting the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to urge the industry to avoid transiting the waterway if crew safety cannot be guaranteed.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it struck more than 80 targets across Iran on Tuesday, including air defence systems, command-and-control networks, coastal radar sites, anti-ship missile capabilities and more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) small boats operating in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
The strikes followed Iranian attacks on three merchant vessels transiting the strait: the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Al Rekayyat, the Saudi Arabia-flagged tanker Wedyan and the Liberia-flagged Cyprus Prosperity.
CENTCOM described the attacks as “a clear and dangerous violation of the ceasefire” that undermined freedom of navigation.
“US forces remain postured and prepared to hold Iran accountable when the agreement is not adhered to or obeyed,” CENTCOM said.
The Trump administration also revoked its temporary sanctions waiver for Iranian oil exports on Tuesday, replacing the relief granted just over two weeks ago under General License X with a 10-day wind-down period for existing transactions.
The new licence took effect immediately, authorising only activities necessary to unwind previously permitted business through 17 July. No new purchases or loadings of Iranian crude, petroleum products or petrochemicals are permitted after 7 July.
The renewed military action and sanctions rollback mark a major escalation just weeks after Washington and Tehran agreed to a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending months of conflict and reopening one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.
Speaking to reporters ahead of a NATO summit in Turkey, President Donald Trump suggested the agreement had effectively collapsed following Iran’s latest attacks.
“To me, I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them,” Trump said. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s just a waste of time dealing with them.”
The latest violence prompted one of the IMO’s strongest warnings since the crisis began. Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez condemned the attacks and urged flag states, shipowners and operators not to expose seafarers to unnecessary risk.
“I condemn the attacks over the past two days against several ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz,” Dominguez said. “These reckless attacks have again placed innocent seafarers in grave danger. No seafarer should have to risk their life simply for doing their job.”
“As long as the safety and security of crews cannot be assured, I urge flag States, shipowners, operators and all relevant authorities to avoid exposing seafarers to unnecessary danger by transiting the Strait.”
Dominguez said the attacks had deepened uncertainty for nearly 6,000 seafarers stranded aboard vessels unable to safely leave the Persian Gulf.
“I call on all States concerned to exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate the situation without delay, and facilitate the safe departure of the ships still trapped in the Gulf since the crisis began,” he said. “The safety of seafarers must remain our foremost priority.”
The warning marks a sharp reversal from the cautious optimism that followed last month’s ceasefire, when industry groups and naval forces had begun encouraging a gradual return to commercial traffic through designated shipping corridors.
Iran rejected US allegations that it had breached the agreement. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused Washington of repeatedly violating the memorandum through renewed military strikes, reimposed oil sanctions, interference in Iran’s management of the Strait of Hormuz, attacks on southern Iran and continued support for Israeli military operations in Lebanon.
“The era of bullying and extortion is over,” Ghalibaf said. “It leads nowhere. We don’t fold.”
The latest exchange has cast the future of the US-Iran agreement into doubt and renewed fears over the security of one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.