U.S. tensions with Iran escalated as the United States conducted airstrikes on Iranian military facilities in retaliation for a drone attack targeting a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. While the U.S. characterized the strikes as a limited response, Iran warned of further action, claiming the attack violated a ceasefire agreement.
On June 26, The New York Times reported that the U.S. Central Command had targeted missile and drone storage facilities and coastal radar sites in Iran following the drone attack on a commercial ship. The Central Command stated that the airstrikes were a "powerful response" to Iran's aggression.
A U.S. defense official clarified that the operation was not intended to escalate into a large-scale conflict but was a measured retaliation for the previous day's attack. According to U.S. officials, the airstrikes lasted approximately 90 minutes, targeting four locations along the coast of the Strait of Hormuz and on Qeshm Island.
Earlier, President Donald Trump announced via social media that Iran had launched four suicide drones at the large container ship Ever Lovely while it was navigating the Strait of Hormuz. He described the attack as a "foolish violation" aimed at a "very large and expensive cargo ship," noting that three drones were intercepted, while one struck the ship's upper deck, though it continued its voyage.
This incident marks the first direct attack by Iran on a commercial vessel since the two countries reached a preliminary peace agreement the previous week. The Ever Lovely sustained damage while passing through waters near Oman but did not sink.
Iran strongly condemned the U.S. airstrikes, asserting they violated the ceasefire agreement. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement claiming that the U.S. attack constituted an act of aggression and warned that if such actions continued, Iran's response would be more extensive. Iranian security officials claimed to have targeted U.S. military bases in the Middle East following the airstrikes, although the U.S. did not immediately confirm these claims.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance also took to social media, stating that the U.S. had adhered to the ceasefire agreement and warned, "Violence will be met with violence."
The recent clash has heightened concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil transportation. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) temporarily suspended its program to support the safe passage of vessels in the Strait. Shipping information firms reported that some oil tankers reversed their routes, and the number of vessels passing through the Strait dropped from 73 to 54 within a day.
While both nations agreed to restore free navigation in the Strait through a preliminary agreement, the specifics of operational procedures remain unclear. Iran claims it has primary authority over navigation in the Strait, while the U.S. and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) reaffirmed in a joint statement that "free and unconditional navigation" must be guaranteed, opposing tolls or attempts at control by specific countries.
The shipping industry is expressing growing unease. Jacob Larsen, chief security officer at the global shipping association BIMCO, stated that shipping companies and insurers may deem passage through the Strait too risky following the attack, raising fears that hostilities could escalate further.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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