Barely a week after the United States and Iran announced an interim ceasefire aimed at halting nearly four months of conflict, both sides accused each other of violating the agreement, raising fresh doubts over its durability on late Friday (local time).
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The latest escalation began after a cargo ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an Iranian drone on Thursday. Washington blamed Tehran for the attack, calling it a clear breach of the ceasefire, and responded on Friday by launching airstrikes on Iranian military sites.
According to US central command, American aircraft struck missile and drone storage facilities as well as coastal radar sites used by Iranian forces. The military later released footage of an explosion from the operation and said the strikes had concluded.
"The unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated the ceasefire," CENTCOM said, describing the operation as "a powerful response" to the attack on the commercial vessel.
US Vice President JD Vance echoed that position, insisting Washington had honoured the memorandum of understanding reached last week.
"Iran signed a ceasefire agreement. We have honored it. If they have disagreements about how the MOU is being applied, they can pick up the phone. But violence will be met with violence," Vance posted on X.
