U.S. Central Command said American forces had begun “a series of powerful strikes” against Iranian targets in response to attacks on commercial shipping crewed by civilians in a vital international waterway. CENTCOM said the Iranian attacks were “unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire.”

The strikes came after a day of massive funeral processions in Iran for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose death has inflamed public anger toward the United States, Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and President Donald Trump. Iranian crowds in recent days again chanted threats against America and Israel, underscoring the ideological fury still driving Tehran’s posture even as negotiations continue.

Iranian state media reported explosions early Wednesday local time in southern Iran. The semi-official Fars News Agency reported multiple blasts — including 10 explosions in Sirik and four in Mesen on Qeshm Island. Iranian reports said several people were injured by shrapnel after what was described as an “enemy projectile” struck a commercial pier in Sirik.

A U.S. official told Reuters that the American strikes specifically targeted Iranian air defense systems, coastal surveillance systems, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles, and drone launch sites. Axios, citing a U.S. official, reported that the new strikes were four or five times larger in scope and power than U.S. strikes carried out 10 days earlier.

The military action followed reports that three tankers had been struck by unknown projectiles in and near the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints. The British navy-affiliated UKMTO reported that a tanker was hit near Oman, while Fox News reported that vessels including a Qatari liquefied natural gas carrier and a Saudi crude tanker were among those struck.

Washington also revoked a temporary sanctions waiver that had allowed Iranian oil sales, tightening economic pressure on the regime as the Trump administration continues to press for a final settlement. A U.S. official said Iran’s actions in the Strait were “wholly unacceptable” and would be met with consequences.

The escalation unfolded as President Trump was in Ankara, Turkey, for a NATO summit, where alliance leaders were discussing defense spending, weapons procurement, and the broader threat posed by Iran, Russia, and China.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the Treasury move, accusing Washington of violating the memorandum of understanding and warning that Tehran would take “any steps it deemed necessary” to protect its interests. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of violating the spirit of the agreement and said Tehran would not begin negotiations on a final agreement “if threats continue,” insisting that paragraph 13 of the deal barred talks under continued pressure.

“Honor your signature,” Araghchi wrote on X — sharing images from Khamenei’s funeral and praising what he called the unity of “millions of proud Iranians.”

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi also accused the United States of violating the agreement, citing both the renewed strikes and recent Israeli actions in Lebanon.

The escalation underscores the power of the Revolutionary Guard inside Iran’s fractured leadership. While diplomats discuss a possible permanent ceasefire and broader agreement, Iran’s military hardliners continue to use threats, terror proxies, and maritime aggression to project strength and pressure the West.

For the United States, Israel, and Gulf states, Tuesday’s missile strikes offered another warning that Tehran’s promises on paper cannot be separated from the regime’s revolutionary ideology on the streets and its military actions at sea.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important energy corridors. Any sustained disruption threatens global shipping, oil prices, and the security of America’s Gulf partners. The Revolutionary Guard’s willingness to strike civilian-crewed commercial vessels in international waters — even amid ceasefire negotiations — signals that the hardliners inside Tehran’s military remain fully operational and ideologically unmoved.