US reimposes sanctions on Iran after IRGC attack on ships in Strait of Hormuz

The Trump administration said the sanctions relief was always contingent on Iranian conduct.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

The United States has reinstated sanctions on Iranian oil, ending temporary sanctions relief after commercial vessels were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz as negotiations with Tehran remain on hold.

A US official said the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control will revoke sanctions waivers that had been granted under a 60-day ceasefire linked to negotiations over the regional conflict.

The talks have been suspended for one week while Iran holds funeral ceremonies for the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The administration said the sanctions relief was always contingent on Iranian conduct.

“As President Trump and the administration have repeatedly affirmed, the MoU in effect with Iran is entirely performance-based. Iran will only reap benefits if they exhibit good behavior,” the official said.

“Iran’s actions in the Strait were wholly unacceptable to the United States and will be met with consequences. Our negotiators continue to work in good faith towards a final deal,” the official added.

The decision followed attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday and Tuesday.

A US official told Axios that Iranian missiles struck two merchant vessels. Iranian state television, citing sources, reported that Tehran attacked at least one liquefied natural gas tanker after it allegedly ignored Iranian warnings.

One of the vessels identified was the Al Rekayyat, a liquefied natural gas tanker owned by Qatar. The Wall Street Journal reported that the vessel’s engine room was hit, causing a fire. No casualties were reported.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said the tanker was struck on its port side while sailing southbound approximately 8 nautical miles (15 kilometers) east of Limah early Tuesday. It said the attack caused a fire but resulted in no reported casualties or environmental damage.

Before the reported strikes, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had issued maritime warnings advising that its missiles and drones were prepared to fire.