US strikes Iran after cargo ship attack in Hormuz; Tehran retaliates by targeting American sites

Tensions in West Asia escalated sharply after the United States launched strikes on Iranian military targets on Friday in response to an attack on a commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Iran's Revolutionary Guards to retaliate by targeting US military positions in the region.

The latest escalation began after Washington accused Tehran of attacking a cargo vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command said it struck Iranian missile and drone storage sites along with coastal radar positions on Friday, describing the operation as retaliation for "unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces" that "clearly violated the ceasefire."

US releases video of strike on Iran

The military said the strikes were "a powerful response to yesterday's attack on a commercial ship that was transiting the Strait of Hormuz."

They also released a 37-second video of the strikes.

US Central Command said the strikes were a "powerful response" to an attack on a commercial ship, M/V Ever Lovely, on June 25.

More from World

"US aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites after Iran hit M/V Ever Lovely on June 25 with a one-way attack drone. The Singapore-flagged cargo ship was exiting the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani coast at the time of Iran's attack," the Central Command said in a statement.

'Foolish violation': Trump accuses Iran of ceasefire breach

Iranian state television later reported an explosion at Taherouyeh pier in the southern port city of Sirik, citing a military source who said the blast was caused by a projectile impact.

US President Donald Trump condemned what he described as an Iranian drone strike on the cargo vessel, saying, "Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our ceasefire agreement."

The exchange has renewed concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route, even as Washington and Tehran continue negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent settlement to the conflict that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.

Iran has warned vessels not to enter or leave the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz without its permission. Despite the warning, commercial traffic has continued, with shipping tracker Kpler reporting that around half of the 42 vessels that transited the strait on Thursday used a southern route along the coast of Oman that had not been approved by Tehran.

Iran targeted US sites in response to strike

The confrontation intensified further after Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced on Saturday that they had targeted US military positions in the Gulf region in retaliation for the American strikes.

The Guards did not specify which US positions were targeted but warned that any further military action would be met with an even stronger response.

"If the aggression is repeated, our response will be broader than this," the Guards said, according to Iranian state television.

Earlier, semi-official ISNA news agency had published a statement attributed to the Revolutionary Guards saying their response to the latest US attack would be "swift and decisive," before later deleting it.

Vance warns US will respond to any Iran attack with 'violence'

US Vice President JD Vance also issued a stern warning to Tehran following the exchange.

"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, referring to the memorandum of understanding intended to halt nearly four months of conflict.

Israel-Lebanon sign framework to end conflict

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continued on another front as Israel, Lebanon and the United States signed a framework agreement in Washington aimed at paving the way for peace along the Israel-Lebanon border.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the accord as one that "begins to put in place a framework for lasting peace and security," while adding, "It's the beginning of the beginning. There's a lot of work ahead."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the agreement, saying it would allow the Lebanese army to return to two pilot areas in southern Lebanon while Israeli forces remain in a security zone until Hezbollah is disarmed.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called the framework a "first step" toward allowing displaced civilians to return home under Lebanese sovereignty. However, Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah rejected the agreement, arguing that it undermined broader negotiations linked to the US-Iran ceasefire.

Iran's nuclear programme

Separately, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi stressed that any final agreement between Washington and Tehran must include stringent monitoring of Iran's nuclear programme.

"The government of Iran has declared quite clearly that this is not their intention," Grossi said of developing nuclear weapons.

"But of course intentions are not enough. We have to have a very strong verification system in place... as soon as is practicable," he added, warning that the agency had so far "barely initiated" talks with Iran.