By Erestinah Jane, June 29, 2026
The United States and Iran have exchanged direct military strikes, placing a fragile ceasefire reached under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under severe strain and raising fresh fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
The latest escalation followed a series of attacks on commercial vessels transiting the strategic Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest energy shipping corridors through which nearly a fifth of global oil supplies pass.
Tensions first flared on Thursday, June 25, when an Iranian one-way attack drone allegedly struck the upper deck of the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel Ever Lovely off the coast of Oman. Although the vessel reportedly sustained damage, no fatalities were immediately reported.
United States President Donald Trump condemned the attack, describing it as a “foolish violation” of the recently negotiated ceasefire and accusing Tehran of undermining efforts to restore stability in the Gulf.
The situation worsened two days later when another suspected Iranian drone struck the Panama-flagged oil tanker MT Kiku as it transited the same maritime corridor, further heightening concerns over the safety of international shipping.
Iran defended its actions by arguing that foreign vessels had failed to comply with its navigation regulations in the Strait of Hormuz.
Officials from Iran’s Foreign Ministry and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that some commercial ships had bypassed Tehran’s approved Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) by sailing close to Oman’s coastline without obtaining the necessary clearances.
The United States rejected those claims, maintaining that international commercial vessels have the right to transit the strait under international maritime law and accusing Iran of threatening freedom of navigation.
In response to the maritime attacks, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) launched precision strikes against what it described as 10 Iranian military targets.
According to U.S. military officials, the operation targeted coastal radar installations, drone storage facilities, air defence batteries and communications infrastructure located on Qeshm and Sirri islands, which Washington said had been used to support attacks on commercial shipping.
The Pentagon stated that the strikes were intended to degrade Iran’s ability to launch further attacks while avoiding civilian casualties.
Iran responded within hours by launching missiles and drones targeting U.S. military installations in Kuwait and Bahrain.
Regional defence officials said Bahraini air defence systems intercepted part of the incoming barrage, although the attacks significantly heightened security concerns across the Gulf and prompted increased military readiness among American allies.
The latest exchange of fire coincided with the implementation of a U.S.-brokered trilateral framework involving Israel and Lebanon, a development Tehran has criticised as inconsistent with understandings it believes were contained in the broader U.S.-Iran ceasefire arrangement.
Washington has accused Tehran of abandoning its commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum by resuming attacks on neutral commercial shipping vessels operating in international waters.
Iran, however, has strongly condemned the American strikes, describing them as an act of “brutal military aggression” and arguing that the attacks violated both the United Nations Charter and the ceasefire agreement.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that the U.S. operation had severely damaged prospects for future diplomatic engagement and cautioned that continued military action could lead to broader regional instability.
Despite the renewed hostilities, international mediators have continued diplomatic efforts to prevent the conflict from escalating further.
Reports indicate that Qatar and other regional partners are working to facilitate fresh emergency talks between Washington and Tehran in an effort to restore the ceasefire and reduce tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
However, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has publicly denied reports that technical working groups are preparing to meet, casting uncertainty over the immediate prospects for renewed negotiations.
The latest military confrontation has once again placed the Gulf region on edge, with analysts warning that any prolonged disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could have significant consequences for global energy markets, international trade and regional security.
As diplomatic efforts continue, governments across the world are closely monitoring developments amid concerns that further retaliatory strikes could derail the already fragile ceasefire and trigger a broader conflict with far-reaching geopolitical and economic implications.
