The U.S. military has launched retaliatory strikes against Iranian targets following an attack on a commercial tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. This escalation comes despite an ongoing ceasefire agreement between the two nations, heightening regional tensions.
CENTCOM confirmed the strikes targeted key Iranian military infrastructure in response to an Iranian drone hitting the M/T Kiku tanker. Bahrain also condemned an Iranian drone strike, calling it a violation of its sovereignty, while commercial traffic through the strait continues.
US Strikes Iran After Tanker Attack in Strait of Hormuz, Escalating Regional Tensions
The U.S. military has launched strikes against Iranian targets in response to an earlier attack on a commercial tanker in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The retaliatory action marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between the two nations, even as an interim agreement aimed at de-escalating regional hostilities remains in effect.
According to a statement released late Saturday by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes targeted Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities. CENTCOM stated that these actions were a direct retaliation for an Iranian drone attack earlier in the day that struck the Panamanian-flagged commercial tanker M/T Kiku. The tanker, carrying over two million barrels of crude oil, was transiting near the Strait of Hormuz at the time of the attack.
CENTCOM Commander General Michael Kurilla emphasized that Iran was given an opportunity to uphold the ceasefire agreement but chose not to. "Iran was given a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement but elected not to when its forces launched a one-way attack drone that hit M/T Kiku this morning at 4:30 a.m. ET," the statement read.
Adding to the regional instability, Bahrain also condemned an Iranian drone strike on Saturday, denouncing it as a "blatant violation" of its sovereignty. Despite the heightened conflict, CENTCOM confirmed that commercial vessel transits through the critical waterway continue uninterrupted.
These developments occur amidst a fragile 60-day ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, intended to pave the way for broader peace negotiations to end their protracted conflict. However, both nations have repeatedly accused each other of violating the terms of the agreement.
The recent U.S. strikes follow a similar action taken by the U.S. military on Friday. President Donald Trump had accused Iran of a "foolish violation" of the ceasefire following drone attacks on ships in the strait. CENTCOM reported that U.S. aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites at that time. This preceded a Thursday drone attack by Iran on the Singapore-flagged cargo ship Ever Lovely near Oman, though the vessel was able to continue its journey through the Strait of Hormuz.
The current wave of hostilities casts a shadow over a memorandum of understanding signed just over a week ago by President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, which aimed to establish a permanent peace deal.
In response to the U.S. strikes, Iran's Revolutionary Guard issued a statement claiming the U.S. had violated its commitments under the guise of the passage of a ship through an unauthorized route. The IRGC stated, "The IRGC Navy responded to this aggression by striking the positions of the US terrorist army in the region." Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament's national security commission, criticized the U.S. action on X, calling it a violation of the ceasefire in the midst of negotiations and accusing President Trump of lacking commitment to negotiation principles.
Reported by Terri Cullen and Dan Mangan.
