TEHRAN (Realist English). The United States and Iran have exchanged military strikes for the first time since the signing of the peace memorandum.
The escalation began with an Iranian drone attack on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on June 25, followed by US airstrikes on Iranian targets, and then Tehran’s claim of retaliatory strikes against US military positions in the region.
The incident has become the most serious test of the ceasefire brokered on June 17 in Islamabad. Although both sides are avoiding a full-scale resumption of hostilities for now, mutual accusations of violating the agreements have cast doubt on the future of the peace process.
From the Ship Attack to the Exchange of Strikes
On June 25, Iranian forces launched at least four kamikaze drones at ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. One of the drones struck the upper deck of the large cargo ship Ever Lovely, sailing under the Singaporean flag off the coast of Oman. The vessel sustained damage but was able to continue its journey. Three other drones were shot down by US forces. No casualties were reported.
Tehran claimed the cargo ship had been targeted because it was using an unauthorised route through the strait. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stressed that the only permitted routes for ships are those announced by Iranian authorities.
On June 26, US President Donald Trump called the incident a “stupid violation” of the ceasefire agreement. “The Islamic Republic of Iran launched at least four kamikaze attack drones at ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz,” he wrote on Truth Social.
When asked whether retaliatory action would follow, Trump told reporters: “You’ll find out.” Hours later, US aircraft struck Iranian targets.
Details of the US Strikes
US military forces carried out airstrikes against Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz and on Qeshm Island. US Central Command (CENTCOM) described the action as a “powerful response” to the attack on the merchant vessel.
The targets of the US airstrikes included:
- missile and drone storage facilities;
- coastal radar stations;
- facilities on Qeshm Island and near the town of Sirik.
CENTCOM’s statement stressed: “The unprovoked aggression against merchant vessels by Iranian forces is a clear violation of the ceasefire regime. Moreover, Iran’s dangerous behaviour undermines freedom of navigation.”
US military officials also said they would continue “to ensure safe passage and support for commercial vessels transiting the strait.”
Iran’s Reaction and Retaliatory Strikes
Tehran did not officially claim responsibility for the attack on the vessel, but the IRGC said its naval forces had launched retaliatory strikes against US military positions in the region. Iranian state television reported an explosion in the town of Sirik in Hormozgan province, which borders the Strait of Hormuz. The US side did not confirm any damage.
The head of the Iranian parliament’s National Security Committee, Ebrahim Azizi, called the US strikes a “reckless violation of the ceasefire,” which, he said, would lead to “retreat and regret” on America’s part. At the same time, he stated: “This is not a violation of the ceasefire, this is managing the ceasefire.”
The IRGC warned: “If aggression recurs, our response will be even larger.”
US Position: “Violence Will Be Met with Violence”
US Vice President JD Vance, who took an active part in the negotiations with Iran, stated: “Iran signed a ceasefire agreement. We are abiding by it. If they have disagreements over how the memorandum is being applied, they can pick up the phone. But violence will be met with violence.”
A US official, however, made it clear that the strikes do not signal a return to full-scale hostilities, at least for now.
Context: The First Test of a Fragile Peace
The incident occurred against the backdrop of the implementation of the “Islamabad Memorandum” – a framework agreement signed by the US and Iran on June 17, 2026. The document provided for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, a cessation of hostilities, and the launch of 60‑day negotiations on a wider range of issues. Under the memorandum, Iran pledged to “make maximum efforts to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels without charging fees for 60 days.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically vital waterway through which, before the war, about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passed. Iran effectively closed the strait after joint US‑Israeli strikes on Iranian targets in late February 2026.
Following the signing of the memorandum, shipping through the strait partially resumed, though it remained well below pre‑war levels. The attack on the Ever Lovely led to the suspension of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) operation to evacuate hundreds of ships and more than 11,000 seafarers trapped in the region.
What Next?
The exchange of strikes marked the first military response to a ceasefire violation since the signing of the memorandum. Although both sides are avoiding full‑scale escalation for now, the incident demonstrated the fragility of the agreements reached and the persistent tensions in the region.
It remains unclear whether the US and Iran will stick to the negotiation track or whether reciprocal strikes will trigger a new round of confrontation. As UN Secretary‑General António Guterres noted, “The Strait of Hormuz was functioning before this conflict began, and we know that is possible. We must return to that.”
The coming days will show whether diplomacy can prevail over military rhetoric or whether the Middle East will again slide into war.