On the morning of 21 July, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the completion of “another round of strikes against Iran”. They stated that “Iranian military command centres, naval assets, missile and drone launch sites, as well as air defence systems, in order to undermine Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz’.
“The transit of commercial vessels through this vital international maritime corridor continues. Since early May, CENTCOM forces have helped facilitate the transit of approximately 900 commercial vessels and 450 million barrels of crude oil,” the statement said.
The US military adds that it is “prepared to hold Iran to account for its unwarranted aggression against civilian seafarers seeking to pass freely and openly through the strait”.
As of the morning of 21 July, oil prices were slightly below the highs of $90 reached on the morning of 20 July.
Earlier this week, The Washington Post reported that the United States is considering expanding military operations against Iran. According to the newspaper’s sources, plans for a large-scale operation are being discussed following the deaths of four American servicemen in Iranian attacks over the past week.