The U.S. military launched strikes against Iranian military installations Friday after Tehran attacked a commercial cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening a ceasefire agreement reached just days earlier.
Iran fired at least four drones at ships in the strategic waterway, with one striking a Singapore-flagged vessel’s upper deck and damaging its bridge. The U.S. Central Command confirmed it carried out the retaliatory strikes against Iranian missile and drone storage facilities, radar sites and other military targets in response to what it called “unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping.”
What Happened
Six American land-based aircraft struck four separate targets along the Strait of Hormuz and on Iran’s Qeshm Island, according to a U.S. official who spoke to CBS News. No injuries were reported from the drone attack on the cargo vessel, which was operating off Oman’s coast when struck.
President Donald Trump announced the Iranian attack on Truth Social, while U.S. Central Command described its response as a “powerful response” to the maritime assault. The military exchange marks the first direct U.S. action against Iran since a ceasefire was established earlier this month.
The Ceasefire Breakdown
Washington and Tehran reached a 14-point memorandum of understanding designed to last 60 days while both sides negotiate a broader agreement on Iran’s nuclear program and regional security. Under the terms, Iran agreed to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for commercial vessels.
Disputes over implementation have continued despite the agreement. The U.S. supports routing ships through the southern portion of the strait near Oman, while Iran insists vessels use routes closer to its shores. Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority warned Thursday that ships using unauthorized routes would not receive safe-passage guarantees or insurance protections.
The Administration’s Response
Vice President JD Vance defended the administration’s military action Friday. “Iran signed a ceasefire agreement. We have honored it,” Vance wrote on social media. “If they have disagreements about how the memorandum of understanding is being applied, they can pick up the phone. But violence will be met with violence.”
U.S. Central Command said the Iranian attack “clearly violated the ceasefire” and called for a return to diplomatic negotiations. The statement emphasized that the strikes were a direct response to aggression against commercial shipping in one of the world’s most critical trade routes.
What This Means
The renewed military engagement raises questions about the future of diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Following the original ceasefire agreement, commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz increased sharply and global oil prices fell toward pre-war levels.
The latest attack and U.S. response could disrupt both trends and further strain the fragile ceasefire. The 60-day agreement remains technically in effect, but continued military escalation threatens its viability and the broader negotiations it was designed to support.
