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The US Treasury Department revoked a licence on Tuesday that had temporarily lifted oil sanctions on Iran, labelling recent Iranian actions in the Strait of Hormuz “wholly unacceptable.”
Washington terminated the waiver—originally scheduled to run through August 21—following a series of attacks on maritime tankers in the strategic waterway.
Affected vessels included a Qatari liquefied natural gas carrier, prompting peace mediator Doha to join the United States in condemning the aggression.
The maritime strikes have revived global concerns regarding freedom of navigation, which had briefly improved after Iran lifted a blockade following a fragile ceasefire with the United States.
A US official stated that the bilateral memorandum of understanding remains entirely performance-based and warned that Tehran will only receive economic benefits in exchange for good behaviour.
Despite the setback, US officials confirmed that their negotiators continue to work in good faith toward a final deal to permanently resolve the conflict that began in late February.
