A fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is facing renewed danger after Tehran accused Washington of violating the truce through military attacks on ships and coastal areas near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian officials said US forces targeted vessels and carried out strikes in areas close to key Gulf shipping routes, actions Tehran described as a direct breach of the ceasefire agreement brokered weeks earlier to halt escalating regional conflict.
According to Iranian state media and military sources, an Iranian oil tanker traveling from Jask toward the Strait of Hormuz was attacked, while another vessel near Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates also came under fire.
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Iran further alleged that US strikes targeted civilian coastal regions including Bandar Khamir, Sirik and Qeshm Island.
The accusations came as reports emerged of renewed military exchanges in Gulf waters, with both countries blaming each other for escalating hostilities around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit checkpoint.
The US military acknowledged carrying out retaliatory strikes but insisted its actions were defensive.
US Central Command said American naval destroyers operating in the Strait of Hormuz were threatened by Iranian missiles, drones and small attack boats, prompting strikes on Iranian launch sites and military facilities.
Washington denied targeting civilian infrastructure, stating that the operation focused solely on eliminating immediate threats to American forces and commercial shipping in the Gulf.
The confrontation has sharply intensified fears that the ceasefire announced in April may be nearing collapse. Although both sides continue to claim the truce technically remains in effect, military exchanges and hostile rhetoric have steadily increased over recent days.
Iranian leaders argue that US naval operations aimed at reopening and escorting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz violate the spirit of the ceasefire agreement. Tehran insists that foreign military intervention in the waterway amounts to provocation and threatens regional stability.
Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, warned that continued US actions in Gulf waters could endanger global energy transit and trigger further escalation.
Iranian officials have repeatedly emphasized that control and security of the Strait remain a national priority.
The Strait of Hormuz handles a significant portion of the world’s oil shipments, making any military confrontation in the area a major threat to global energy markets and economic stability. Previous incidents in the waterway have already caused sharp rises in oil prices and disruptions to maritime trade.
The latest crisis comes amid broader tensions across the Middle East involving Iran, Israel, Lebanon and US-allied Gulf states. Analysts warn that even limited clashes in the Gulf could rapidly evolve into a wider regional conflict with serious international consequences.
Despite the escalating rhetoric, diplomatic efforts are continuing behind the scenes, with mediators including Pakistan attempting to preserve the ceasefire and prevent full-scale war from resuming.