The U.S. military struck Iran on Friday after President Donald Trump accused the Islamic Republic of “foolish violation” of a ceasefire agreement by launching drone attacks at ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Central Command said its aircraft “struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites.”
Iran’s military said American forces attacked Sirik Island, and vowed to respond in a “swift and decisive manner, according to a report by a state media outlet.
A one-way attack drone launched by Iran on Thursday struck the Singapore-flagged cargo ship Ever Lovely in the strait off the coast of Oman, Central Command said in a post on X. The vessel was able to continue on its way through the strait, which is a major thoroughfare for the shipment of oil.
Trump said the U.S. military “knocked down” three other attack drones aimed at ships in the strait.
“The unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated the ceasefire,” Central Command said.
“Furthermore, Iran’s dangerous behavior undermined freedom of navigation as commerce increasingly flows through the vital international trade corridor,” Central Command said.
The attack comes more than a week after Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at developing a permanent peace deal to end the war between their two nations.
Vice President JD Vance traveled to Switzerland last weekend for talks with Iranian counterparts about that deal.
Vance, in a post on X on Friday, wrote, “Iran signed a ceasefire agreement. We have honored it.”
“If they have disagreements about how the MOU is being applied, they can pick up the phone,” Vance wrote. “But violence will be met with violence.
Shortly before Central Command announced the retaliatory strikes on Friday, Trump was asked by a reporter at the White House if there would be consequences for Iran for violating the ceasefire.
“You’ll find out,” the president replied.
Ebrahim Azizi, the head of the national security commission of the Iranian parliament, in post on X said, “The U.S. attacked Iran in the middle of negotiations once again.”
“The failed U.S. President has shown he has no commitment to the principles of negotiation or a ceasefire,” Azizi said. “This reckless violation of the ceasefire will, as always, lead to retreat and regret on their part. The blame game does not work anymore.”
After the attacks, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said, “We announce our counteraction against the attack carried out by American forces on Sirik Island,” according to the Iranian state news media outlet ISNA’s Telegram channel.
“Our naval and air forces succeeded in neutralizing this attack and forced the invading forces to retreat in order to protect Iran’s sovereignty over its land and waters,” the IRGC said, ISNA reported.
“️We emphasize that this aggression will not go unanswered, and our response will be swift and decisive at a time and place of our choosing,” the IRGC reportedly said. “️We warn that any new foolishness will be met with a harsh response that will shatter the invaders’ illusions in the region.”
After that report, another Iranian state media outlet, FARS, said the IRGC denied making the statement as reported by ISNA.
“Statements attributed to the IRGC in recent hours are fake,” FARS said, citing the IRGC. “For several hours, several texts and statements attributed to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have been circulating on social media, which IRGC public relations officials say none of them have been issued by the IRGC.”
“IRGC public relations officials emphasized that news, announcements, and statements of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are only published through Sepah News and official media,” FARS reported.
