The U.S. military launched airstrikes against Iranian targets Friday after Tehran attacked a commercial cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions just days after the two nations agreed to a ceasefire.
President Donald Trump said Iran fired at least four drones at ships in the strategic waterway, with one striking a large cargo vessel. Trump posted on Truth Social that the attack violated a ceasefire agreement reached earlier this month between Washington and Tehran.
The U.S. military responded swiftly, with American forces conducting strikes on Iranian missile and drone storage facilities, radar sites, and other military infrastructure. U.S. Central Command described the action as a “powerful response” to what it called “unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping.”
Details of the Military Response
Six land-based American 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. The operation targeted Iranian military capabilities in the region.
The attacked cargo vessel, flagged in Singapore, sustained damage to its bridge but reported no injuries or environmental damage, U.S. officials confirmed. The ship was traveling near Oman’s coast when it was struck by the drone.
Tensions Over the Ceasefire Agreement
The 14-point ceasefire memorandum signed between the U.S. and Iran earlier this month included provisions for Iran to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days while both sides negotiate broader agreements on Iran’s nuclear program and regional security.
The agreement initially boosted commercial shipping through the waterway and pushed global oil prices lower. However, disputes have emerged over implementation, with the U.S. favoring southern shipping routes near Oman while Iran insists vessels use routes closer to Iranian shores.
Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority warned Thursday that ships using unapproved routes would not receive safe-passage guarantees or insurance protections. The authority suggested commercial tolls could be imposed once the temporary agreement expires.
Diplomatic Implications
Vice President JD Vance, who led the ceasefire negotiations, defended the military strikes Friday on social media. “Iran signed a ceasefire agreement. We have honored it,” Vance wrote, adding that “violence will be met with violence” if disputes escalate further, CBS News reported.
The strikes represent the first direct U.S. military action against Iran since the ceasefire took effect, raising questions about the viability of ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran over the next 60 days.