US launches new barrage of strikes on Iran

The United States on Tuesday launched new air strikes on Iranian targets, quashing hopes that an exchange of fire last weekend might not lead to a wider renewal of hostilities.

According to Reuters news agency, oil prices had already risen after that first exchange of direct attacks ‌since July and after reports of two tankers being hit on Monday leaving the Strait, the global oil supply waterway that Iran has effectively closed to shipping. 

Brent crude futures , already up 2% on the day, jumped almost 2% more on the reports.

Tehran remained defiant, warning that it would prevent oil being exported from the Gulf, despite a threat by US President Donald Trump to hit Iran "hard" in response to the renewed Iranian strikes, and a warning from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that Washington was about to impose ​new sanctions.

"Today at 12 p.m. ET (1600 GMT), U.S. forces began striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran," U.S. Central Command posted on X. 

"The strikes follow recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against ​commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members deployed to the region."