The US strikes were likely launched in response to the Iranian attacks on neutral civilian ships that were transiting Omani territorial waters, says David Des Roches, former Pentagon NATO operations director. “The MoU required the US to lift its reciprocal blockade of Iran’s ports, which it did, required the US to waive sanctions for the Iranian sale of oil – which it did – and it required Iran to not interfere with civilian shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” Des Roches told Al Jazeera.
