WASHINGTON / TEHRAN – The United States military has carried out a series of airstrikes against military targets in Iran. The operation was launched in response to a drone attack on a Singapore-flagged cargo vessel, coming just days after both nations reached a memorandum of understanding to halt hostilities.
US Central Command (Centcom) announced on Friday that the retaliatory strikes successfully targeted missile and drone storage facilities, alongside coastal radar positions. According to military officials, the intervention was a direct response to Thursday’s drone strike on the cargo ship Ever Lovely, an incident that forced the United Nations to halt a planned evacuation of thousands of sailors stranded in the region.
Allegations of Ceasefire Violations
US President Donald Trump labeled the drone strike a “foolish violation” of the truce agreed upon on June 17. The 14-point memorandum of understanding explicitly called for Iran to utilize its “best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days.”
In an official statement, Centcom noted:
“The unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated the ceasefire. Furthermore, Iran’s dangerous behavior undermined freedom of navigation as commerce increasingly flows through the vital international trade corridor.”
Commenting on the situation via social media, Vice President JD Vance warned that “violence will be met with violence,” adding that if Tehran had disagreements regarding the implementation of the agreement, “they can pick up the phone.”
Iran Cites Route Deviation, Warns of Further Retaliation
Tehran has defended its maritime actions, asserting that the cargo ship was intercepted because it was utilizing an unauthorized route to transit through the critical Gulf waterway.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) blamed the “treaty-breaking US regime” for launching airstrikes on the Iranian coast under what they termed “various pretexts.” The IRGC stated that its navy retaliated by striking US military positions in the region, warning:
“If the aggression is repeated, our response will be more extensive than this.”
Additionally, Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s national security commission, accused Washington of attacking Iran in the midst of ongoing negotiations, calling the US response a reckless violation that would ultimately lead to “retreat and regret.”
Global Maritime and Economic Impact
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints for oil and gas shipments. The effective closure of the waterway in late February had previously triggered a sharp spike in global oil prices and disrupted the transit of essential commodities, including fertilizer.
Evergreen, the owner of the Ever Lovely, confirmed that the vessel was struck 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Oman’s port of Dahit while following recommended routes. The company reassured that “all crew members remain safe as does the vessel itself and all cargo.” Following the brief renewal of hostilities, the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) has temporarily paused its evacuation operations for over 11,000 sailors who have remained stranded in the shipping lane since the regional conflict erupted.
