The United States has reinstated sanctions on Iranian oil following a series of maritime incidents. The British maritime security agency UKMTO reported that three vessels were targeted by attacks over a twenty-four-hour period in this sea route.
Accusations of Attacks
Qatar and Saudi Arabia attributed two of these attacks to Iran, despite an existing ceasefire between Tehran and Washington. Saudi Arabia specifically condemned the attack carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran against the Saudi tanker Wedyan and the Qatari methanol carrier Al-Rakayyat, classifying the act as an assault on international navigation safety and global energy supplies.
Protocol and Sanctions
On June 17, Iran and the US had signed an agreement protocol aimed at ending the conflict that began on February 28, after a US-Israeli attack on Tehran. This agreement stipulated the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of American sanctions on Iranian oil. However, the US Treasury Department prohibited new transactions of Iranian hydrocarbons starting Tuesday.
Additional Incidents and Tension
UKMTO also mentioned two other unnamed events: a tanker hit by an unidentified projectile and a tanker struck by a drone of unknown origin. In these cases, no casualties or environmental damage were recorded. Despite these incidents, navigation resumed in the Strait of Hormuz after the protocol was signed.
Political Context
At the end of June, the US accused Iran of attacking two vessels and subsequently bombed the country, leading both sides to reach an agreement to cease hostilities. Iran maintains the position, despite US opposition, that it will not return to the pre-war situation when passage through the Strait was free, and threatens ships that attempt to deviate from the single authorized route along its coasts.
Mourning and Tensions
This escalation of tension occurs while Iran holds six-day funeral ceremonies for its leader, Ali Khamenei, who passed away on the first day of the US-Israeli attacks. His body recently arrived in Iraq for processions in Najaf and Karbala, holy sites for Shia Muslims.