Iran Vows Crushing Response After US Hits 80 Targets Over Strait Tanker Attacks
Updated
Updated · ABC News · Jul 8
Iran Vows Crushing Response After US Hits 80 Targets Over Strait Tanker Attacks
3 articles · Updated · ABC News · Jul 8
Summary
More than 80 US strikes hit Iranian targets after three tankers were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran's top joint military command warned of a "crushing response."
CENTCOM said the operation was an immediate reply to attacks on commercial shipping, hitting over 60 IRGC small boats as well as air defenses, coastal surveillance, anti-ship missiles and drone launch sites.
Three tankers were struck by projectiles off Oman or the UAE, including a vessel that caught fire; Qatar blamed Iran for hitting its LNG tanker Al Rekayyat, while Saudi Arabia said its Wedyan supertanker was also targeted.
The attacks pushed the US Navy-led maritime center to raise the strait's threat level to "severe," warning of continued hostile action, congestion and heavier IRGC interference along transit routes.
The escalation further strains a June interim US-Iran deal: Washington revoked a 60-day license for Iranian oil sales, and broader talks remain on hold as both sides clash over control and access in a waterway that normally carries a fifth of global oil and gas trade.
With the new peace deal shattered after only three weeks, what is the ultimate endgame in the US-Iran war?
As Iran's wounded new Supreme Leader remains unseen, who is truly directing its 'crushing response' against the United States?
Strait of Hormuz Crisis: July 2026 US-Iran Escalation Shuts Down 20% of Global Oil, Threatens Global Trade and Humanitarian Supply
Overview
On July 7, 2026, the United States launched military strikes against Iran and reimposed sanctions, citing recent attacks on commercial tankers—including a Qatari LNG carrier and other vessels—as the trigger. Iran immediately condemned these actions, calling them violations of previous agreements. This rapid escalation followed a fragile truce established by the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which had aimed to restore safe shipping and ease tensions. The breakdown of this agreement, combined with renewed attacks on vital shipping routes, pushed both nations into direct confrontation, threatening global energy supplies and regional stability.