On Tuesday, the United States launched a new round of strikes against Iran and reimposed sanctions on Iranian oil sales in response to multiple attacks on merchant vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, posing one of the harshest tests yet to the fragile ceasefire between the two nations. The U.S. Central Command stated in a statement that U.S. forces have begun a series of strong strikes against Iran to compel it to pay a price for attacking commercial ships navigating international waterways and operated by civilian crews. The statement described Iran’s attack on three merchant vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz as "unnecessary, dangerous," and clearly violating the ceasefire. The reimposition of oil sanctions by the United States also canceled one of the key concessions granted to Tehran under the ceasefire agreement. Previously, the U.S. Treasury had agreed to lift sanctions on Iranian oil sales within 60 days in exchange for Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and facilitating the resumption of shipping, which led to a significant drop in global oil prices. A U.S. official said that Iran would only gain benefits if it behaved well, and its actions in the strait were "completely unacceptable" and would face consequences. Following the announcement, international oil prices fluctuated upward: Brent crude rose 3% to $76 per barrel, while U.S. crude surged nearly 6%, returning above $70 per barrel for the first time since June 30.
Image source: internet
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1870110712894473/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author