Tensions between the United States and Iran are rising again. Washington has decided to reimpose economic sanctions on Iranian oil following Tehran's "totally unacceptable" actions in the Strait of Hormuz, where several commercial vessels were attacked in recent hours while transiting. "As Trump and the administration have repeatedly stated, the current memorandum of understanding with Iran is entirely results-based: Tehran will only benefit if it demonstrates proper conduct," a US official explained to Axios, adding that "Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz are completely unacceptable to the United States and will not go unpunished."
The White House has thus revoked the June 21 waiver that authorized the production, delivery, and sale of Iranian oil, once again affecting one of the Islamic Republic's key economic sectors. This decision comes as the delicate balance achieved after months of tension risks being undermined again.
In the Strait of Hormuz, in less than 24 hours, at least three commercial ships, including a Qatari and a Saudi, were hit while passing through the strategic passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. According to the British news agency UKMTO, the attacks caused material damage, but there were no deaths or injuries. US and Gulf sources blame Iran, which is meanwhile holding mass funerals for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, killed on February 28 in a joint Israeli-US raid.
Precisely because of these attacks, the UKMTO has raised the threat level in the Strait of Hormuz from "significant" to "serious." Tehran thus appears to be sending a new political message: to reaffirm, in practice, its desire to exercise control over one of the world's most important maritime corridors, through which a significant portion of global energy trade passes. This issue had already been among the most delicate in the negotiations that culminated, in mid-June, in the preliminary agreement between Iran and the United States.
Among the vessels affected was the Al Rekayyat, a Qatari natural gas carrier. This incident directly affects the strategic interests of Doha, which, along with Pakistan, is a key player in the mediation between Washington and Tehran. "This is an unacceptable attack on the security of international maritime navigation," declared Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari, calling on Iran, which he held "fully legally responsible" for the incident, to "immediately cease all practices that compromise regional security."
According to international media, the Al Rekayyat, owned by the Qatari company Nakilat, was hit on the port side of its hull while sailing near Hormuz. A fire broke out in the engine room, which was later extinguished, prompting the captain to issue the emergency mayday signal, fearing an explosion. Around the same time, a Saudi oil tanker, believed to be the supertanker Weydan, was also hit, as well as a third vessel, details of which have not yet been released. Riyadh has also openly accused the Ayatollah regime of targeting one of its vessels.
The attacks also had immediate repercussions on energy markets, with the price of natural gas rising above 46 euros per megawatt hour, signaling operators' concerns about possible disruptions to trade in the Strait . For its part, Iran has not officially claimed responsibility for the attacks and continues to focus public attention on the solemn funeral ceremonies dedicated to the "martyred leader" Khamenei. A political message, however, came from Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. "We will not be intimidated by the enemy's threats," he wrote on social media, also recalling that, according to "paragraph 13 of the memorandum" signed with the United States, negotiations on the final agreement "will not begin if the threats continue."
The message was accompanied by aerial images of the massive popular demonstrations surrounding the funeral of the former Supreme Leader and his family, with thousands waving red flags and calling for "revenge." After ceremonies in Tehran and the holy city of Qom, the funeral procession will continue through Iraq, between Najaf and Karbala, two of the holiest sites in Shiite Islam, before the burial scheduled for Thursday in Mashhad.
(Unioneonline)
