The United States launched military strikes against Iranian targets on Friday after accusing Tehran of violating a ceasefire agreement by carrying out a drone attack on a commercial cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, adding fresh uncertainty to efforts aimed at ending months of conflict.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the operation targeted Iranian missile and drone storage facilities as well as coastal radar installations. According to the US military, the strikes were carried out in response to Thursday’s drone attack on a Singapore-flagged cargo ship that disrupted plans to evacuate sailors stranded in the region.
Washington described the Iranian action as a breach of the ceasefire agreed under a memorandum of understanding signed on June 17. The agreement called on Iran to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the strategic waterway for a 60-day period.
In a statement, CENTCOM said Iran’s actions endangered international shipping and threatened freedom of navigation in one of the world’s busiest energy corridors. The command added that US forces would continue coordinating safe transit for commercial vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran rejected the US accusations and insisted the cargo vessel had been using an unauthorised route through the Gulf. Tehran responded to the American strikes by accusing Washington of violating the interim agreement and announced that it had launched attacks against targets linked to US forces in the region.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry blamed what it called the “treaty-breaking” actions of the United States for the renewed escalation. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also claimed responsibility for strikes on US military positions but did not provide details about the locations or the extent of the attacks.
The exchange came after weeks of cautious optimism following indirect negotiations between the two countries. The June 17 agreement had eased tensions after months of conflict that began with US and Israeli military operations against Iran earlier this year.
President Donald Trump condemned Thursday’s drone strike, calling it a “foolish violation” of the truce. Speaking at the White House, he declined to reveal how the United States would respond before the strikes took place but warned that Iran should not have carried out the attack.
Vice President JD Vance later said disagreements over the implementation of the agreement should be resolved through diplomacy rather than violence, warning that any further attacks would receive a forceful response.
Iranian officials maintained that Washington had once again used military force during ongoing negotiations. Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of Iran’s parliamentary national security commission, said the latest US action would only deepen tensions.
The cargo vessel involved in Thursday’s incident, the Ever Lovely, was struck about 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Oman’s Port of Dahit while following a recommended maritime route. The vessel’s owner said all crew members were safe and the ship sustained no significant damage.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important shipping lanes for oil, liquefied natural gas and other commodities, making any disruption a major concern for global trade and energy markets.
