The United States has carried out military strikes against Iranian targets after President Donald Trump accused Tehran of violating a recently agreed truce by attacking a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
The retaliatory action came after a Singapore-flagged cargo ship, the Ever Lovely, was hit by a one-way attack drone on Thursday while sailing through one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes. No casualties were reported, but the incident raised fresh concerns over maritime security and prompted the suspension of plans to evacuate thousands of stranded sailors from the region.
US Central Command (Centcom) announced on Friday that it had targeted Iranian missile and drone storage facilities as well as coastal radar installations. The military described the operation as “a powerful response” to what it called an unjustified attack on commercial shipping.
“The unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated the ceasefire,” Centcom said in a statement, adding that Iran’s actions threatened freedom of navigation through a critical global trade corridor.
The US military also pledged to continue supporting and coordinating safe passage for commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump had hinted at possible retaliation earlier in the day. When asked by reporters whether the United States would strike Iran, he responded simply: “You’ll see.”
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) condemned the American operation, accusing Washington of breaking its commitments under the recent agreement between the two countries.
“The treaty-breaking US regime as always violated its commitments and launched an airstrike on the coast of the Islamic Republic of Iran under various pretexts,” the IRGC said in a statement, warning that any further aggression would trigger an even stronger response.
The Iranian military also accused Israel of breaching a separate ceasefire arrangement in Lebanon, despite Israel and Lebanon signing a framework agreement for peace in Washington on Friday. Sporadic clashes between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group have continued in southern Lebanon in recent weeks.
The latest escalation comes after the United States and Iran agreed on 17 June to end hostilities under a 14-point memorandum of understanding. The deal included a commitment by Iran to ensure safe and toll-free passage for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz for a period of 60 days.
However, tensions have persisted over reports that Iran was considering imposing fees on vessels using the waterway. Trump warned earlier this week that any attempt to introduce such charges would immediately end negotiations between the two countries.
Vice-President JD Vance reinforced Washington’s position following the strikes, saying on social media that any disagreements regarding the agreement should be resolved through diplomacy.
“If Iran has disagreements about how the MOU is being applied, they can pick up the phone,” Vance wrote. “But violence will be met with violence.”
The Ever Lovely was reportedly struck around 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Oman’s port of Dahit while following a route recommended by the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency. The vessel’s owner, Evergreen, confirmed that all crew members were safe and that neither the ship nor its cargo had suffered significant damage.
The incident has disrupted humanitarian efforts in the region. The International Maritime Organization announced it was temporarily pausing plans to evacuate more than 11,000 sailors who have remained stranded in the shipping corridor since hostilities between Iran, the United States and Israel intensified earlier this year.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints, handling a significant share of global oil and gas exports. Any renewed instability in the area risks further disruption to international trade and could trigger additional volatility in global energy markets.
