U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Tuesday that they’d hit over 80 targets in Iran following the Islamic Republic’s targeting of three commercial tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
It was a direct violation of the “memorandum of understanding” (MOU) between the two countries, according to the U.S., and the resulting American military response was roughly eight times larger than the earlier strikes on June 27, after Iran also attacked commercial shipping.
The Treasury Department also reimposed sanctions on Iranian oil sales, hitting them where it hurts: in the wallet. All this is going on as the seemingly endless, week-long funeral for the very dead former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rambles on.
The ceasefire looks increasingly tenuous, as our Ward Clark reported earlier Tuesday:
U.S. Central Command forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway. The U.S. strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 7, 2026
U.S. Central Command forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway. The U.S. strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire.
Administration officials reportedly said the airstrikes were a direct result of Iran’s latest targeting of commercial shipping in the all-important Strait:
“U.S. forces struck Iranian air defense systems, command and control networks, coastal radar sites, anti-ship missile capabilities, and more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps small boats in and near the strait to degrade Iran’s ability to continue attacking international commerce flowing through the international trade corridor,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
Iran’s bellicose response was predictable because they often lash out with angry threats:
Iran's top joint military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, vowed to deliver a "crushing response" after U.S. forces launched a series of strikes in the country Tuesday.
Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters described the U.S. strikes as a "blatant act of aggression" and warned that Tehran would not allow the United States to interfere with its handling of the Strait of Hormuz.
Just because they can't always back up their violent rhetoric doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take them seriously — the Islamic Republic is a dangerous foe that is a threat to peace and decency in the civilized world — but it’s also true that their mouths often spout off about checks that their accounts can’t cash.
HEATING UP: Breaking: CENTCOM Now Imposing Heavy Costs on Iran for Targeting Ships
Iran Reneges Again, Strikes 2 Ships in Strait of Hormuz — US Responds by Hitting Them Where It Hurts
RedState’s Buzz Patterson had thoughts:
CENTCOM has release video of our strikes tonight. It’s over for now. We targeted over 80 locations and more than 60 IRGC small boats.
— Buzz Patterson (@BuzzPatterson) July 8, 2026
We hit them HARD tonight but all targets were military installations or equipment.
Bridge and Power Day is standing by, Iran. I think I’d quit… https://t.co/2oXuZMBee0
CENTCOM has release video of our strikes tonight. It’s over for now. We targeted over 80 locations and more than 60 IRGC small boats.
We hit them HARD tonight but all targets were military installations or equipment.
Bridge and Power Day is standing by, Iran. I think I’d quit shooting at oil tankers. We’re chomping at the bit over here.
And so the conflict rages on. Are we looking at war, submission, a deal, or something unexpected? RedState will keep you posted.
Editor's Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
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