The naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Saturday reported striking several US military positions in response to a US attack in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian news agency IRNA reports. Tehran accused Washington of violating a memorandum of understanding signed by the two sides last week and threatened “more extensive” action if such incidents were repeated.
The ceasefire was violated on Thursday – the Islamic Republic launched attack drones on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump announced this on Friday, calling the incident a “stupid violation of the ceasefire agreement.” It turned out that the attack damaged the cargo ship M/V Ever Lovely, which was sailing through the strait along the coast of Oman under the flag of Singapore.
Later that day, Axios journalist Barak Ravid, citing an American official, reported that the United States had carried out strikes on Iranian targets in the strait area. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) clarified that the target of the operation was missile and drone warehouses, as well as coastal radar systems. The attack was reportedly in response to “unjustified aggression” by Iran.
“U.S. forces maintain a presence in the region and continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure that all provisions of the Iran agreement are respected, implemented and remain in full force and effect,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
US Vice President J.D. Vance warned that Washington is ready to provide a proportionate response to any attack.
“If they have a disagreement about the application of the memorandum, they can simply pick up the phone and call. But violence will be met with violence,” he said.
The IRGC claims that the ship that was attacked by drones violated established rules for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. According to the Iranian side, the United States only took advantage of the opportunity to launch airstrikes. After this came the answer – the IRGC naval forces attacked the locations of the American military in the region.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the US actions, calling them a direct violation of the memorandum and the UN Charter. The department emphasized the country's right to self-defense and warned the Gulf states against providing their territory for military operations against Iran.
“Responsibility for the consequences of this situation lies with the aggressive and treacherous US regime, as well as with the parties that facilitate its aggressive actions against Iran,” the department said.
The escalation also affected Bahrain, on whose territory there is an American military base. The kingdom's authorities reported the arrival of Iranian drones on Saturday morning. The country's Foreign Ministry called the incident a “flagrant violation of sovereignty” and a “threat to the security of citizens and residents” of the kingdom. It is not specified which objects were the target of the attack.
The United States has not yet commented on the Iranian strike, but the UK Maritime Trade Operations Office (UKMTO) on Saturday announced that a tanker was damaged in the Strait of Hormuz as a result of being hit by an “unknown projectile,” CNN notes. According to the department, the ship's captain's cabin was damaged, but none of the crew members were injured. The UKMTO has advised vessels to take increased precautions.
The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) also reported an increased threat level to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Recall that the United States and Iran remotely signed a memorandum of understanding last week. The document provides for the cessation of hostilities and the resumption of free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Under the terms of the agreement, the United States pledged to lift the naval blockade within 30 days of the opening of the strait, and Iran pledged to provide safe and free passage for commercial ships within 60 days.
