Tanker struck in Strait of Hormuz as U.S.-Iran tensions escalate

A tanker in the Strait of Hormuz was reportedly hit by a shell on Saturday; It is the latest example of rising tensions between the United States and Iran in recent days following an interim agreement to end hostilities in the region.

UK Merchant Marine Operations Center in question A ship in the strait was struck by an “unidentified projectile” and the bridge was damaged, but the crew was reported safe. Bahrain also condemned Iran’s drone strike on Saturday as a “blatant violation” of its sovereignty.

The new attacks come as the United States and Iran are expected to reach a 60-day ceasefire as they hold talks to end their war. But both accused the other of violating their part of the agreement.

The US military struck Iran on Friday after President Donald Trump accused the Islamic Republic of “stupidly violating” the ceasefire agreement by launching drone attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command said its planes “hit Iran’s missile and drone depots and coastal radar sites.”

This follows Iran’s drone attack on the Singapore-flagged cargo ship Ever Lovely off the coast of Oman on Thursday, Central Command said. X. The ship continued on its way through the strait, which is an important passageway for oil shipments.

Iran did not comment directly on reports of specific attacks on ships. But state media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired “warning shots” at unspecified ships not approved by Iran trying to pass through the canals, Reuters reported.

The renewed attacks come more than a week after Trump and Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at developing a permanent peace agreement to end the war between the two countries.

Vice President J.D. Vance traveled to Switzerland last weekend to meet with his Iranian counterparts about this agreement.

“Iran signed a ceasefire agreement. We honored it,” Vance wrote in a post on X on Friday.

“If they have disagreements about how to implement the agreement, they can pick up the phone,” Vance wrote. “But violence will be met with violence.

Shortly before Central Command announced retaliatory strikes on Friday, a White House reporter asked Trump whether violating the ceasefire would have consequences for Iran.

“You will find out,” the President replied.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said in a statement following the US attacks: “Following the violation of the ceasefire by the Zionist regime in Southern Lebanon, the US regime, which broke the agreement a few hours ago, violated its commitments as always and, under various pretexts, launched an air strike on the coast of the Islamic Republic of Iran because a violating ship passed through an unauthorized route through the Strait of Hormuz.”

“The Revolutionary Guard Navy responded to this attack by striking the positions of the US terrorist army in the region,” the IRGC said.

“According to Article 5 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, the arrangements for controlling the passage in the Strait of Hormuz are in the hands of the Islamic Republic of Iran; however, the USA tried to violate this commitment by provoking various parties and the necessary response was given, and this will continue to be the case from now on.”

“If the attack is repeated, our response will be more comprehensive than that,” the IRGC said.

Ibrahim Azizi, head of the national security commission of the Iranian parliament, said in his post on X, “The USA attacked Iran once again, right in the middle of the negotiations.”

“The failed US President has shown that he is not committed to the principles of negotiation or ceasefire,” Azizi said. he said.

“This reckless violation of the ceasefire will, as always, lead to withdrawal and regret. The blame game no longer works.”

— CNBC’s Dan Mangan contributed to this report.