US launches fresh strikes on Iran after tanker attack; Trump warns of more military action over ceasefire violations
The United States launched a fresh round of military strikes on Iranian targets after a Panama-flagged oil tanker was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, marking another escalation in tensions despite a fragile ceasefire agreement reached between Washington and Tehran earlier this month.
The operation is the second consecutive day of US military action linked to attacks on commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf, raising concerns over the stability of the recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) intended to pave the way for long-term peace in West Asia.
CENTCOM says 10 Iranian military targets hit
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American military aircraft struck 10 Iranian military targets in and around the Strait of Hormuz in response to what it described as an Iranian drone attack on the oil tanker Kiku.
According to CENTCOM, the vessel was carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil when it was targeted by a one-way drone while transiting the strategic waterway.
Ship-tracking data indicated that the tanker had departed a Qatari oil field earlier in the week and was heading towards a port in the United Arab Emirates, located beyond the Strait of Hormuz.
The US military said the strikes targeted Iranian surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defence sites, drone storage facilities and minelayer capabilities.
Trump issues fresh warning to Iran
Following the strikes, US President Donald Trump warned Iran against any further violations of the ceasefire, saying additional hostile actions could trigger a broader military response.
“United States aircraft just struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations, and coastal radar sites, for violating the Cease Fire Agreement, AGAIN! It is very possible that they will never learn! There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
JD Vance urges diplomacy
US Vice President JD Vance, who has been leading negotiations with Iran, urged Tehran to resolve disputes through dialogue instead of military action.
“Iran should pick up the phone” if there are disagreements regarding the ceasefire, Vance said, adding that “violence will be met with violence.”
Peace talks continue despite tensions
The United States and Iran are continuing negotiations on a broader agreement covering maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear programme and its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Under the interim agreement, both sides have 60 days to negotiate the framework of a final deal. The negotiations also include efforts aimed at reducing regional tensions, including the conflict involving the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon.
The latest military exchanges, however, have underscored the fragile nature of the ceasefire and highlighted the risk of renewed conflict in one of the world’s most strategically important energy corridors.
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