The United States has launched a series of 'powerful' strikes against Iran in response to attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the US Central Command (Centcom) announced on Tuesday.

Centcom said the strikes were intended 'to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent individuals in an international waterway.'

The tankers were damaged within a 24-hour period on Monday and Tuesday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). No casualties were reported.

Iran has not claimed responsibility for the attacks on the vessels. Earlier on Tuesday, a US official said Iran would face consequences and called the attacks 'wholly unacceptable.'

The US Treasury also revoked a sanctions waiver that had temporarily lifted oil sanctions on Iran.

Qatar and Saudi Arabia denounced the attacks, each saying a tanker from its country was hit while transiting in or near the Strait.

Centcom stated that the strikes were 'in response to Iranian attacks' and that 'Iran's demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire.'

The US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, insisted that US negotiators would continue to work in 'good faith' toward a final deal with Iran.

The revoked US license, which authorized Iran to sell oil and petroleum products, was part of a memorandum of understanding signed by Washington and Tehran last month.

A Treasury notice published on Tuesday allows a wind-down period until July 17 for transactions permitted under the waiver.

Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari held Iran 'fully responsible' for an apparent targeted attack on the vessel Al-Rekayyat and demanded Iran 'immediately cease all practices that undermine regional security.'

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said Iran targeted the Saudi tanker Wadyan, calling the assaults 'an attack on the security and safety of international navigation and global energy supplies.'

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei has only commented on Qatar's accusations, describing them as 'contrary to the principle of good neighborliness.'

Source: www.bbc.co.uk