US Military Strikes Iranian Targets Following Cargo Ship Attack
Stock photo of cargo ships near the Strait of Hormuz
The US military has carried out strikes on Iranian targets after President Donald Trump accused Iran of a "foolish violation" of its truce following an attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
No casualties were reported when the ship was hit by a one-way attack drone on Thursday, an incident that led to a planned evacuation of more than 11,000 sailors stranded in the region.
In response, US Central Command announced on Friday that it had targeted missile and drone storage facilities as well as coastal radar positions. Iran has not yet issued any comment regarding the strikes.
Shortly before the strikes were announced, President Trump responded to questions about a US reaction to the Iranian attack by saying,
"you'll see"
US Central Command, also known as Centcom, described the strikes as "a powerful response" to the drone attack.
"The unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated the ceasefire,"
the statement read.
"Furthermore, Iran's dangerous behavior undermined freedom of navigation as commerce increasingly flows through the vital international trade corridor."
Centcom added that the US military would "continue to provide safe passage coordination and support to commercial vessels transiting the strait."
At present, it remains unclear whether the US strikes were isolated or part of a broader, ongoing response.
Following US and Israeli attacks against Iran that began at the end of February, Tehran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz—a critical waterway for oil and gas shipments—resulting in a surge in global oil prices and disrupting shipments of other essential commodities such as fertilizer.
On 17 June, the US and Iran agreed to end hostilities under a 14-point memorandum of understanding, which also called for Iran to use its "best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days."
Trump's Remarks on the Incident and Ceasefire
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday afternoon, President Trump declined to elaborate on how the US might respond to the drone attack or whether he considered the ceasefire still in effect.
"You'll find out,"
he said.
"I don't like the fact that they took a shot yesterday. They shouldn't be doing that."
When asked why he believed Iran would carry out such an operation, Trump replied,
"they're a little bit different."
In recent days, Trump and other US officials have maintained that negotiations with Iran were progressing well, asserting that Iran had abandoned any plans to impose tolls on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump stated that Iran had informed the US that there would be "no tolls, no insurance costs and no other charges of any kind being sought or received."
"If this is false information, negotiations would end, immediately,"
he added.
International Concerns Over Tolling and Maritime Law
The US has condemned reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers passing through the strait, with many viewing any tolling system as a violation of international maritime law.
On Tuesday, Iranian and Omani officials met in Oman's capital, Muscat, to discuss "the future management of navigation." Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi stated that both countries were committed to "toll-free safe passage."
However, Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf, told state-affiliated news outlets,
"everyone should know that the administration of the Strait of Hormuz will never go back to the way it was before the war."
