The United States has launched new military strikes against Iran, a move prompted by a drone attack that targeted a Panama-flagged vessel, the MT Kiku, in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. US Central Command (Centcom) stated that the operations were a direct response to what it characterized as ongoing aggression against commercial maritime traffic.
In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced through state media that it had fired missiles and deployed drones targeting American infrastructure located in Kuwait and Bahrain. Tehran cautioned that violating the existing ceasefire agreement—a 14-point memorandum of understanding signed on June 17—would essentially dismantle the ongoing diplomatic process.
Centcom noted that Iran had been provided an opportunity to uphold the ceasefire but opted to breach it by launching a one-way attack drone against the tanker. Consequently, the US military targeted Iranian air defense sites, communication systems, drone storage facilities, and various military equipment. Conversely, the IRGC claimed that the US had struck five of its coastal posts under the guise of responding to the maritime incident. Iran maintained that it holds the right to regulate navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and promised a more forceful approach toward vessels it deems offending.
Following the engagement, US President Donald Trump commented via Truth Social, suggesting it was very possible that Tehran would never learn. He warned that if reasonable diplomatic avenues were exhausted, the US might be forced to finish the job militarily, adding that the Islamic Republic could cease to exist.
The regional impact was immediate, as air defense systems were activated in both Kuwait and Bahrain shortly after the strikes. Kuwaiti armed forces confirmed they were responding to hostile drone and missile threats, while the Bahraini Ministry of Interior urged citizens to seek safety. Despite the volatility, Centcom reported that commercial shipping activity continues within the Strait of Hormuz.
These latest strikes occurred less than 24 hours after a similar US response following a June 25 drone attack on the Singapore-flagged vessel, MV Ever Lovely. While the US condemned the aggression as a violation of international maritime norms and the ceasefire, Tehran defended its actions, claiming the cargo ship was utilizing unauthorized transit routes. The situation remains tense as both sides accuse the other of treaty-breaking, further complicating the precarious security environment of the crucial oil and gas waterway.
