The United States launched another round of military strikes against Iranian targets Saturday after a drone attack on a commercial oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz, further escalating tensions despite a recently negotiated ceasefire agreement intended to stabilize the region.
According to U.S. Central Command (Centcom), American forces carried out strikes against multiple Iranian military assets in direct response to what officials described as continued aggression against commercial shipping.
“CENTCOM forces launched strikes today in direct response to continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping,” the military command said in a statement posted on the social platform X. “U.S. military aircraft targeted Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities.”
The latest U.S. action followed an early morning attack on the Panama-flagged tanker M/T Kiku, which was transiting near the Strait of Hormuz carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil. Centcom said the vessel was struck by a one-way attack drone at approximately 4:30 a.m.
The attack marks the latest incident in a renewed confrontation between Washington and Tehran that has unfolded over the past several days, threatening one of the world's most important energy corridors.
Earlier this week, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted a Singapore-flagged cargo ship near the coast of Oman. President Trump condemned that attack, calling it a “foolish violation” of the ceasefire agreement that had been reached only days earlier.
The U.S. military responded Friday by striking Iranian missile and drone storage facilities as well as coastal radar installations. Centcom said Iran's actions were jeopardizing freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane that carries a significant share of the world's oil exports.
Military officials said Iran had been given an opportunity to comply with the ceasefire but instead chose to violate its terms.
Centcom said Iran was “given a chance to honor” the fragile ceasefire agreement following Friday's strikes “but elected not to,” accusing Tehran of undermining the deal.
The ceasefire stems from a 14-point memorandum of understanding signed electronically last week. The agreement pauses hostilities for 60 days while restoring unrestricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Under its terms, Iran agreed to use its “best efforts” to ensure safe, toll-free passage for commercial vessels during the truce.
Despite the agreement remaining technically in effect, competing claims over control of the strategic waterway have raised concerns about its durability. Iran has already attempted to disrupt shipping again, highlighting the fragile nature of the arrangement.
Shipping activity through the strait remains well below normal levels. According to a real-time maritime tracking dashboard, only five vessels transited the narrow waterway during the past 24 hours—a fraction of the traffic typically seen during peacetime.
The reduced flow of commercial shipping underscores continuing concerns among vessel operators and insurers about the security situation in the Gulf. Any prolonged disruption could have broader implications for global energy markets, as the Strait of Hormuz serves as a critical transit route for crude oil exports from the Middle East.
President Trump signaled Saturday that additional U.S. military action remains possible if Iran continues violating the ceasefire.
“It is very possible that they will never learn!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to military complete the job that we very successfully started.”
The president concluded with a stark warning to Tehran.
“If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!” Trump warned.
