The United States carried out fresh military strikes on Iran on Saturday following an attack on a Panama-flagged oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz. The action increased tensions despite a recent peace agreement signed two weeks earlier.
This marks the second straight day of US operations tied to shipping incidents and signals a sharp decline in relations since Washington and Tehran reached an understanding intended to stabilize the West Asia region.
US Central Command stated the strikes were ordered by the president and responded to Iran’s reported breach of the ceasefire. Officials noted that after prior US action against an attack on one vessel, Iran launched a drone that struck another tanker carrying over two million barrels of crude near the strait.
Iranian media reported explosions on Sirik Island and strikes near Qeshm Island, both close to the waterway.
President Donald Trump warned that continued violations could lead to further US operations that might end the existence of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The latest strikes followed an earlier response to an attack on a cargo ship attempting passage through the same area. US aircraft hit missile storage sites and radar installations.
Vice President JD Vance said any violence would be answered in kind and urged use of diplomatic channels instead.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it targeted US military positions in reply, though specific details remain unavailable.
The incidents have renewed worries about security in the Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the world’s oil moves. Shipping had partially resumed under the temporary truce, but the new attack raised fresh concerns.
A maritime security agency confirmed damage to one tanker’s bridge but reported no crew injuries. Threat levels for commercial traffic were raised after the events.
