On Saturday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the military has executed further strikes against several targets in Iran, following an attack on a Panamanian-flagged oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz.
The renewed military action comes after Iran reportedly disregarded a ceasefire, conducting a drone attack on a tanker carrying over 2 million barrels of crude oil.
“CENTCOM forces today launched an attack in direct response to Iran’s continued assaults on commercial shipping,” CENTCOM indicated. “U.S. aircraft targeted Iran’s military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage, and mine-laying capabilities.”
According to CENTCOM, the tanker M/T Kiku was assaulted by a one-way drone around 4:30 a.m. while navigating near the Strait of Hormuz.
After the previous day’s U.S. airstrike, CENTCOM noted that Iran had another chance to adhere to the ceasefire. However, Iranian forces instead launched a drone that hit M/T Kiku early this morning, leading to increased tensions in the area.
This incident followed an attack two days prior, where Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps allegedly targeted the Singapore-flagged vessel “Ever Lovely” in the same region.
U.S. officials reported the ship was struck by an Iranian one-way drone. However, the UK’s Maritime Trade Operations Center mentioned it could have been hit by an “unknown projectile.” The bridge sustained damage, but there were no reported injuries or environmental harm.
The day after the tanker incident, U.S. forces targeted Iranian missile and drone storage facilities, including coastal radar stations. CENTCOM stated that Iran’s actions pose a threat to freedom of navigation through one of the globe’s busiest shipping routes.
CENTCOM also asserted that, although Iran was “given the opportunity” to maintain the ceasefire post the earlier attack, it chose to breach the agreement.
President Donald Trump expressed that any Iranian attempts to impose tolls or insurance fees on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz are unacceptable and could jeopardize ongoing negotiations.
In a message on Truth Social, he noted that Iran assured the U.S. it would not charge or collect tolls on vessels in the strategic waterway. “Iran has informed the United States that, despite various misleading news reports, ‘no fees, insurance premiums, or any other fees of any kind are being charged or received by Iran for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz,'” he stated.
