June 26, 2026 l By Kimberly White
WASHINGTON/DUBAI — The United States launched military strikes against Iranian targets on Friday after a commercial cargo vessel was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, dramatically escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran and threatening to unravel a fragile peace agreement reached only days earlier.
According to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), American aircraft targeted Iranian missile and drone storage facilities, along with coastal radar installations, in what officials described as a direct response to an Iranian drone attack on a cargo ship transiting one of the world's most strategically important waterways.
The strikes came after Iran reaffirmed its claim that it has the right to control shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, warning Gulf nations against supporting U.S. efforts to maintain freedom of navigation in the narrow passage that carries roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
"The unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated the ceasefire," CENTCOM said in a statement, adding that the operation was intended as "a powerful response" to the attack on the merchant vessel. U.S. officials said American forces would continue to provide security assistance to commercial ships navigating the strait.
Iranian state media confirmed that explosions were heard near the southern port city of Sirik following the U.S. strikes. Iranian military sources claimed the country had earlier fired warning shots and missiles toward vessels that allegedly violated regulations governing passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran maintained that, as a coastal state bordering the strategic waterway, it has a legitimate role in regulating maritime traffic.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz could not be guaranteed without recognizing Iran's authority over the waterway. Tehran has also objected to statements by the United States and several Gulf nations rejecting Iran's suggestion that commercial vessels could be required to pay transit fees.
The latest confrontation has intensified fears over regional stability despite diplomatic efforts to preserve last week's ceasefire agreement. At the same time, there were signs of progress elsewhere in the Middle East after Israel and Lebanon announced a preliminary agreement aimed at ending hostilities involving Hezbollah. However, questions remain over how the agreement will be implemented, with Hezbollah indicating it would not cooperate with certain provisions.
The security situation has significantly affected maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping movements slowed sharply after the cargo ship attack, prompting the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to temporarily suspend its voluntary safe-passage programme for commercial vessels while it reassesses security guarantees in the region. Tanker traffic remains well below normal levels despite a gradual resumption of oil exports.
Global energy markets reacted cautiously to the developments. Oil prices fell more than three percent after Saudi Aramco resumed crude loadings at its Ras Tanura export terminal and additional tankers successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, easing some concerns about severe supply disruptions. Nevertheless, analysts warned that renewed military escalation could quickly reverse recent declines in oil prices if shipping is disrupted again.
Diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider regional conflict continue, but the exchange of military action and increasingly assertive rhetoric from both Washington and Tehran has cast fresh uncertainty over the durability of the ceasefire. International observers warn that any prolonged disruption to the Strait of Hormuz would have significant consequences for global energy markets and international trade, given the waterway's critical role in transporting crude oil and natural gas from the Gulf to markets around the world.