The United States launched airstrikes on Iranian missile and drone storage facilities as well as coastal radar positions after accusing Tehran of attacking a commercial cargo ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation was carried out in response to Iran's alleged drone attack on the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel M/V Ever Lovely on June 25 while it was sailing along the Omani coast. The US described the strikes as a "powerful response" to what it called an unprovoked attack on international commercial shipping.
In an official statement, CENTCOM said Iran's actions violated the ceasefire agreement between the two countries and threatened the security of one of the world's most important maritime trade routes. The US military said it continues to provide safe passage coordination and support for commercial vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz, a corridor through which nearly one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies are transported. The command also released a 37-second video showing footage of the strikes but did not specify the exact locations that were targeted.
Iranian state media later reported that an explosion was heard near Taherouyeh pier in the southern port city of Sirik. Citing local military sources, Iranian television said the blast was caused by a projectile impact. Shortly after the US operation, Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for attacks on American positions in the Gulf region and warned that any further military action would be met with an even broader response. The statement signalled a fresh escalation despite the existence of a ceasefire agreement.
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US Vice President JD Vance issued a stern warning to Tehran following the exchange of strikes. In a post on X, he said Iran had signed and agreed to honour the ceasefire and urged it to resolve any disputes through diplomatic channels rather than military action. Vance warned that any further violence would be met with force, reiterating Washington's commitment to enforcing the terms of the ceasefire and protecting international shipping in the region.
US President Donald Trump also condemned the reported drone attack on the cargo vessel, calling it a "foolish" violation of the ceasefire agreement. He said one drone struck the upper deck of the commercial ship while three others were intercepted before reaching their targets. Trump reiterated that attacks on civilian shipping would not be tolerated and defended the military response as necessary to safeguard freedom of navigation and regional stability.
Although a ceasefire between the United States and Iran came into effect on April 8, tensions have continued with sporadic attacks and retaliatory military operations. On June 17, President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a 14-point framework aimed at ending nearly four months of conflict and committed to pursuing a comprehensive agreement within 60 days. A first round of negotiations was subsequently held in Switzerland, but the latest exchange of strikes underscores the fragile nature of the truce and the continuing risk of renewed confrontation in the Middle East.
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