US Strikes Military Targets in Iran After Incident Involving Merchant Ship in Hormuz, Tehran: Ceasefire Violated

The United States carried out airstrikes against Iranian military targets after accusing Tehran of violating the ceasefire and of being behind a drone attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

US Central Command, CENTCOM, announced that the targets included facilities used to store missiles and drones, as well as coastal radar positions.

According to US officials, the operation came in response to Thursday’s attack on the merchant vessel “Ever Lovely,” which was sailing under the Singapore flag and was hit near the port of Dahit in Oman. Washington described the intervention as a “powerful response” to an act that, it said, endangered freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most important maritime corridors.

US authorities also said that Iranian attacks on merchant ships are contrary to the ceasefire agreement reached on June 17, which provided for safe passage for commercial vessels for 60 days. According to CENTCOM, the US will continue to support safe passage through the strait.

Tehran, meanwhile, denied the accusations and stated that the ship had followed an “unauthorized” route in the Strait of Hormuz, while describing the US actions as a violation of the ceasefire.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC, said that the Iranian navy had responded by striking US military positions in the region, but gave no further details.

US Vice President JD Vance said that any act of violence would receive a strong response, while President Donald Trump said that the next US steps “will be revealed,” without offering further details regarding the ceasefire.

Iran, for its part, accused Washington of a “violation of the ceasefire in the midst of negotiations” and warned that any further escalation would bring consequences. Iranian officials added that the administration of the Strait of Hormuz would not return to the state it was in before the conflict.

The latest developments have heightened tensions in this strategic area for global oil and gas transport. Temporary closures of the strait and the worsening situation have affected both energy markets and the international flow of goods.