United States | Launches Another Round of Strikes Against Iran, Revokes Oil Sale Licenses (Second Edition)

The United States accused Iran of attacking three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, launching a new round of strikes on Iran and revoking Iran’s oil sales licenses. Iran condemned the U.S. for openly invading, and vowed to deliver a devastating response.

AI | Nobel Prize–winning economist warns the West not to rely on growth-by-proxy to boost growth 【Next page】

(Second edition update: Trump’s latest remarks)

U.S. President Donald Trump said of the Iran nuclear deal that he believes it is over: “I don’t want to deal with them anymore. They are sick people, and their leaders are sick people.”

Trump added that dealing with Iran is a waste of time, because Iran is a liar. “We reached an agreement, and everyone agreed not to develop nuclear weapons. After we reached an agreement, they went out and told the media that we never discussed it. They have problems with their minds.”

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said that three oil tankers were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. It condemned Iran’s armed forces for its aggression in the Strait of Hormuz as a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement, and for undermining freedom of navigation. CENTCOM said it had completed airstrikes on more than 80 targets, and claimed the strikes also sank more than 60 small vessels of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, weakening Iran’s ability to attack merchant ships.

Reuters quoted a U.S. official as saying the targets of this airstrike were Iran’s air defense systems, coastal surveillance systems, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship cruise missile sites, and unmanned drone launch pads.

Iranian media reported that in the early morning of Wednesday (the 8th) local time, explosions occurred at Iran’s main oil hubs, Kharg Island, Qeshm Island, the southern port city of Sirik, and Bandar Abbas. The incident did not cause civilian deaths on the spot, but at a commercial wharf in Sirik, multiple people were injured by shell fragments. Several fishing boats in both Sirik and Abbas also caught fire.

Iran’s Supreme Joint Military Command condemned the U.S. airstrikes as an act of blatant aggression, threatened a devastating response, and warned that Iran would not allow the United States to interfere in the management of the strait.

【World Cup 2026】 Trump confirms he requested a review of the red card, insisting he did not pressure FIFA 【Next page】

In addition, under the interim U.S.-Iran agreement, on June 22 the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued a general license allowing Iran to sell crude oil, petrochemical products, and oil products, valid until August 21. The U.S. revoked the license on Tuesday (the 7th), giving Iran until July 17 to terminate all transactions.

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the move as violating the framework agreement meant to end the war, and said the U.S. would bear the consequences. In a statement on Wednesday (the 8th), Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Iran would take necessary measures to protect its own interests and national security.

Earlier, Reuters cited a U.S. official as saying that U.S. negotiators still sincerely reached a final agreement with Iran, but Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz gives the Tehran regime enormous leverage, enabling it to get stuck in a stalemate with the U.S. military.

Track today’s international hot topics—download the Hong Kong Economic Journal app for free now【 Click here 】