US reimposes blockade on Iranian ports, launches more strikes

Iran’s deputy foreign minister accuses US of destroying the interim peace deal.The United States has renewed its blockade of Iranian ports after another day of escalating exchanges with Iran that appear to have doomed their interim peace deal.The US military said its blockade of vessels transiting “to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas” went into effect on 20:00 GMT on Tuesday evening.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3‘Piracy’: Will Trump’s 20 percent Hormuz toll find takers?list 2 of 3Even if the Iran war ends, the next fossil fuel shock is already on its waylist 3 of 3US consumer prices drop in June as energy costs tumbleend of listThe US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) also announced it had started a new wave of strikes on Iran, shortly after Iranian media reports of US attacks in or near the cities of Sirik and Bandar Abbas.CENTCOM said its latest attacks were aimed at “degrading Iranian capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz”.Earlier on Tuesday, Iranian officials and state media reported US strikes on the city of Abadan, which hosts the oldest oil refinery in the Middle East, the port city of Mahshahr, Qeshm Island and Kish Island.CENTCOM had launched a wave of attacks across Iran on Monday night, including strikes on Bushehr and Bandar Abbas.Iran responded by hitting two ships in Omani waters in the Strait of Hormuz, killing a crew member, according to the United Arab Emirates. Iran also carried out retaliatory attacks Tuesday on Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.“This is a low-intensity war that is becoming persistent,” said Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar, reporting from Tehran, Iran. “And, of course, there are concerns if things escalate further, there might be a return to a full-scale war.”“It’s been another difficult 24 hours for countries in the Gulf and in Jordan as these Iranian attacks continue across this region,” reported Al Jazeera’s Victoria Gatenby from Doha, Qatar.