Iran live updates: US carrying out 'powerful' airstrikes after earlier Iranian attacks in Strait of Hormuz, CENTCOM says

Iran's deputy foreign minister, in a statement published by the FARS news agency, is calling the U.S. strikes on Iran a serious violation of the memorandum of understanding signed last month between the U.S. and Iran.

"Iran will take decisive measures to protect its national interests and security, while issuing a serious warning about the consequences of America's breach of the treaty," the deputy foreign minister said in the statement.

Iranian officials also slammed the U.S. government's decision to revoke a license that authorized the sale of Iranian oil -- a key aspect of the MOU -- following Iran's reported missile strikes on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. forces are carrying out "powerful" airstrikes against Iran in response to earlier Iranian attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command said.

"U.S. Central Command forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway," CENTCOM said in a social media post. "The U.S. strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire."

There are were reports of several explosions in the southern Iranian port city of Sirik, Iranian state TV reported.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry is pushing back on accusations made by Qatar that Iran attacked one of its ships in the Strait of Hormuz, saying Qatar's accusations are questionable, contrary to the principle of good neighborliness, and unacceptable.

Iran is committed to its commitments to ensure security and provide maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz and called on regional countries and shipping companies to refrain from any action contrary to the ceasefire agreement, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said in a statement Tuesday.

Baghaei also warned that the movement of vessels in uncoordinated routes or the switching off of tracking systems would jeopardize maritime security and traffic safety in the Strait of Hormuz.