US reinstates Iranian oil sanctions after attacks in Hormuz

The U.S. government revoked a license on Tuesday that had temporarily lifted sanctions on Iranian oil, following attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz amid negotiations between Tehran and Washington on ending the Middle East war. "Iran's actions in the strait were totally unacceptable to the United States and will have consequences," a U.S. Treasury Department official told AFP.

The exemption announced in June had initially allowed the Islamic Republic to produce, sell, and deliver crude oil and related products until August 21. Washington's move comes after three tankers, including a Qatari vessel carrying liquefied natural gas, were hit by projectiles within hours of each other in the Strait of Hormuz, according to maritime monitors and Qatar.

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Iran's actions in the strait were totally unacceptable to the United States and will have consequences.

"Unacceptable attack" The British maritime security agency UKMTO reported that an "unknown projectile" hit a tanker during the night, causing a fire, before two other vessels were hit, at least one by a drone. The three vessels were attacked near Oman, which had proposed a temporary transit corridor along its coast, an initiative Iran opposes as it seeks to impose fees on ships using the narrow maritime passage.

Qatar stated that one of the vessels was its LNG tanker Al-Rekayyat and blamed Iran, denouncing an "unacceptable" attack on international maritime navigation. "We consider Iran fully legally responsible for this attack and for any resulting damage or repercussions," wrote Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari on X.

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We consider Iran fully legally responsible for this attack and for any resulting damage or repercussions.

Iran responded by condemning Qatar's accusations. "The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baqai, said that Qatar's accusations against Iran for the alleged attack on a vessel linked to the country in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday were questionable and contrary to the principle of good neighborliness, describing them as unacceptable," reported the official IRNA news agency.

"No alternative" The attacks have revived concerns about freedom of navigation after Iran lifted its blockade of the waterway following a fragile ceasefire with the United States. The U.S. Treasury official said Tuesday that its memorandum of understanding with Iran is based "entirely on compliance" with navigation conditions, and warned that Tehran will only see benefits if it shows "good conduct." The future of Hormuz, the main route for the Gulf's energy exports, has been a point of friction during negotiations between Tehran and Washington to permanently end the conflict. On Tuesday, oil prices rose more than 2% as the new attacks revived concerns about global energy supply.

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the accusations of Qatar against Iran for the alleged attack on a vessel linked to the country in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday were questionable and contrary to the principle of good neighborliness, describing them as unacceptable.