Illustrative image. (U.S. Central Command)
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on June 26 that its forces conducted strikes against Iran as a “powerful response” to an attack on a commercial ship that was transiting the Strait of Hormuz a day earlier.
The strikes represent the first direct attack by the U.S. against the Islamic Republic since the two signed a memorandum of understanding to end the war earlier this month.
In a statement, CENTCOM said that U.S. aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites after Iran hit M/V Ever Lovely on June 25 with a one-way attack drone. The Singapore-flagged cargo ship was exiting the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani coast at the time of Iran’s attack.
The command added that the “unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated the ceasefire.”
It further said that Iran’s “dangerous behavior” undermined freedom of navigation as commerce increasingly flows through the vital international trade corridor.
“CENTCOM forces continue to provide safe passage coordination and support to commercial vessels transiting the strait,” the command added. “The U.S. military remains present and vigilant to ensure all aspects of the agreement with Iran are adhered to, obeyed, and in full force and effect.”
Earlier in the day, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Iran of violating the memorandum of understanding, claiming that the Islamic Republic launched at least four “attack drones” at ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our ceasefire agreement,” Trump said.
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported, citing an informed military source, that an explosion at Tahrouyi Pier in the south of the Islamic Republic was caused by a projectile striking the dock area. The source added that Iranian forces fired several warning shots hours earlier toward vessels it described only as “violators” in the Strait of Hormuz.
From its side, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that it repelled an attack by the U.S. against Sirik Island, which is located on the shores of the Strait of Hormuz. The guards stressed that its response to the U.S. strike will be “swift and decisive.”
The U.S. strikes were a very serious escalation, and based on this, it can be expected that the Iranian response will be extensive.
Despite this escalation, it is highly unlikely that the memorandum of understanding will collapse, especially that the last round of talks between the two sides in Switzerland was described as “encouraging.” Still, the latest developments show that the Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint.
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