On Friday, June 26, the US military launched strikes against Iranian targets including missile and drone storage facilities and coastal radar positions. This action was in response to a drone attack on Thursday against the Singapore-flagged cargo ship, Ever Lovely, in the Strait of Hormuz. The US Central Command termed these strikes as a "powerful response," asserting that Iran's "unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping clearly violated the ceasefire" and undermined freedom of navigation.
The drone attack on the Ever Lovely, which sustained damage to its bridge but with all crew safe, occurred while the vessel was following the UKMTO's recommended route. The incident halted a planned evacuation of over 11,000 sailors stranded in the region since February, when Iran effectively closed the strait following US and Israeli attacks. This closure had previously caused a spike in global oil prices and disrupted crucial commodity shipments.
Iran, in turn, retaliated by striking targets linked to American forces and accused the US of breaching their interim deal. Bahrain also reported attacks from "several Iranian drones." The recent hostilities come despite a June 17 agreement between the US and Iran, a 14-point memorandum of understanding, which stipulated an end to hostilities and Iran's commitment to ensuring "safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days." Both President Trump and Iran's chief negotiator, Ebrahim Az, had expressed optimism about the agreement, with Trump stating on Truth Social that Iran had pledged "no tolls, no insurance costs and no other charges of any kind."
US Vice-President JD Vance commented on the situation via X, stating that if Iran had "disagreements about how the MOU is being applied, they can pick up the phone." Meanwhile, the UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO) paused its planned evacuation of stranded sailors, highlighting the immediate humanitarian impact of the renewed conflict. The situation suggests a fragile ceasefire that has quickly broken down, with both sides exchanging blame for the escalation.
