Iran Condemns Renewed US Airstrikes, Says Ceasefire Deal Has Been Effectively Nullified

Iran said the US has effectively nullified prior understandings by resuming airstrikes on the country.

Iran's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on July 8 that terms of an agreement in the Strait of Hormuz had been violated, according to Odaily and other outlets. It added that Israel's continued airstrikes on Lebanon were effectively rendering a temporary ceasefire agreement meaningless.

US Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, resumed airstrikes on Iran a day earlier, on July 7. The move came after three tankers in the Strait of Hormuz were hit in successive attacks that were attributed to Iran. CENTCOM said it had launched heavy strikes to impose a steep cost for attacks targeting commercial vessels carrying civilians in international waters. It called Iran's actions a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement.

The US government also revoked a temporary general license issued on June 21 that had allowed the sale of Iranian crude for up to 60 days. As a result, 63 million barrels of Iranian oil are now stranded at sea, the report said.