The U.S. carried out strikes against Iran on Friday in response to an Iranian attack on a commercial vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz the previous day that President Donald Trump denounced as a “foolish violation” of the ceasefire agreed to by the two countries.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces carried out “a powerful response” to Iran’s attack, striking “missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites,” the command said in a news release.
“The unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated the ceasefire,” CENTCOM said. “Furthermore, Iran’s dangerous behavior undermined freedom of navigation as commerce increasingly flows through the vital international trade corridor.”
The U.S. and Iran agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz toll-free for sixty days as a part of a memorandum of understanding signed by leaders of both countries last week, and ships moved to once again traverse the critical shipping corridor.
But as a number of vessels sought to use an alternative route to one approved by Tehran, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Thursday issued warnings to “strictly refrain from any movement outside the designated routes” and hours later struck a Singapore-flagged cargo ship in the Strait.
Read More: Iran Strikes Vessel in Strait of Hormuz, Threatening More Shipping Disruptions
The Persian Gulf Seaways Management Organization, which was recently created by Iran to oversee the Strait, said after the strike that “the consequences of traveling on unauthorized routes will be the responsibility of the owner, operator, and commander of the vessel.”
President Donald Trump on Friday morning accused Tehran of breaching the ceasefire, writing on Truth Social that Iran had launched four one-way drones at ships in the Strait, three of which the U.S. successfully shot down, while the fourth hit a “large and very expensive Cargo Carrying Ship.” The ship suffered damage, he added, but was “able to proceed on its way.”
“Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement,” Trump said.
The President hinted at a possible U.S. response to the attack while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office shortly before CENTCOM’s announcement, responding when asked if Iran would face repercussions for the alleged ceasefire violation: “You’ll find out.”
It is not yet clear how the strikes will impact peace negotiations between Iran and the U.S. Vice President JD Vance touted progress after the first round of talks in Switzerland earlier this week, saying that negotiators had “laid a successful foundation to get to a good place for the American people.”
CENTCOM said in its news release announcing the U.S. strikes on Friday that its forces “continue to provide safe passage coordination and support to commercial vessels transiting the strait.”
“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,” it said.
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