The United States military has launched strikes on Iranian targets after President Donald Trump accused Iran of violating a ceasefire agreement following a drone attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command (Centcom) said the strikes targeted missile and drone storage facilities as well as coastal radar sites on Friday.
The action came after a cargo ship was attacked on Thursday, an incident that disrupted plans to evacuate thousands of sailors stranded in the region.
Iran said the cargo ship was targeted because it was using an unauthorised route while travelling through the Gulf waterway.
Following the US strikes, Iran accused Washington of breaking the ceasefire agreement and claimed it had carried out attacks against locations linked to American forces.
Centcom described the operation as a “powerful response” to the drone attack.
“The unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated the ceasefire,” the command said.
It added that Iran’s actions threatened freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most important trade routes.
The US military said it would continue supporting commercial vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s foreign ministry later said the country had responded with strikes against American-linked targets and blamed the US for escalating tensions.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also claimed it had attacked US military positions in the region, warning that any future aggression would receive a stronger response.
The Strait of Hormuz had effectively been closed after US and Israeli attacks against Iran began earlier in the year.
The closure affected global energy supplies, pushing oil prices higher and disrupting shipments of other goods.
The US and Iran had agreed on June 17 to reduce hostilities under a 14-point agreement, which included a commitment from Iran to help ensure safe passage for commercial vessels for 60 days.
US Vice-President JD Vance said Iran could raise any concerns through diplomatic channels.
“But violence will be met with violence,” he said.
Iranian officials accused the US of attacking during negotiations and warned that the move would have consequences.
The latest tensions began after the Singapore-flagged cargo ship Ever Lovely was struck near Oman.
The ship’s owner, Evergreen, said all crew members were safe and the vessel suffered no major damage.
The International Maritime Organization later suspended plans to evacuate more than 11,000 sailors stranded in the region because of the rising security concerns.
