President Donald Trump said Iran violated a ceasefire agreement by launching attack drones at commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, including one that struck a cargo vessel.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump accused Iran on Friday of violating a newly signed ceasefire agreement after an Iranian attack drone struck a commercial cargo ship moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said Iran launched at least four one-way attack drones at ships in the strategic waterway, with one drone hitting the upper deck of a cargo vessel. The president said three other drones were shot down.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran shot at least four One Way Attack Drones at Ships transversing the Strait of Hormuz. One of the Drones solidly hit the upper deck of a large and very expensive Cargo Carrying Ship,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Damage was done, but the Ship was able to proceed on its way,” Trump continued. “We knocked down three other Drones. Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement.”
Trump did not say whether the United States would take military action in response to the strike. He also did not indicate whether the incident would endanger the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding signed earlier in the week.
His comments suggested the administration still intends to preserve the agreement despite what Trump described as a serious breach.
The strike was the first reported military incident in the Strait of Hormuz since Washington and Tehran signed the memorandum, which halted active hostilities and began a 60-day negotiating period aimed at reaching a broader agreement on Iran’s nuclear program and regional security.
A key provision of the agreement required the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
“Immediately upon the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, the United States [shall] lift the naval blockade and prevent any interference or obstruction against maritime navigation, while the Islamic Republic of Iran shall guarantee the safe transit of all commercial and civilian vessels through the Strait of Hormuz for a period of sixty (60) days pending negotiations toward a final agreement,” the memorandum states.
Iranian officials have continued to assert that Tehran controls navigation through the waterway. Iran’s deputy foreign minister said Friday that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz by “parallel routes” could not be guaranteed and that commercial ships must continue using designated transit corridors approved by Iranian authorities.
Tehran has also argued that foreign military deployments in the Persian Gulf contribute to instability in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and carries roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption, making it a critical chokepoint for energy markets and commercial shipping.
It was not clear Friday whether the strait remained fully open. On Thursday, a U.N. agency suspended the evacuation of ships through the waterway, citing Iranian attacks.
Oil markets had moved lower this week after the ceasefire agreement, reflecting investor expectations that major disruptions to Gulf energy exports could be avoided. Analysts warned, however, that the drone strike showed the situation remains unstable.
Sustained attacks on commercial vessels or renewed questions over freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz could reverse the recent decline in oil prices and increase fears of supply disruptions.
The incident also occurred as U.S.-mediated diplomatic efforts continued elsewhere in the region, including talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem warned Friday that Israel’s objectives in Lebanon go beyond missile threats and amount to an effort “to swallow it up and occupy it.”