The US carried out a second consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran. The strikes were in retaliation for drone attacks on commercial vessels.
Official statement from CENTCOM
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the strikes were conducted on the orders of the commander-in-chief. The statement said that Iran's aggression against commercial maritime shipping continues.
CENTCOM reported targeting Iran's military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense facilities, drone storage sites, and mine-laying capabilities.
Explosions in southern Iran
Iranian state media reported explosions near the village of Tahrului in the south of the country and on Qeshm Island. The center of Friday's strikes was also around the port of Sirik.
Trump issues stern threat
Shortly after the strikes began, US President Donald Trump posted on social media, accusing Iran of violating the ceasefire agreement. "They will not learn," Trump said, stating that if they are forced to finish the war, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist.
Tanker attacks threaten ceasefire
Early Saturday morning, the Panama-flagged tanker Kiku was hit by a drone strike while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. There were no injuries and no cargo leak was reported. CENTCOM stated the ship was carrying over 2 million barrels of oil and was struck by a one-way attack drone.
The previous day, a similar attack targeted the Singapore-flagged container ship Ever Lovely, to which the US responded with airstrikes on Iran on Friday.
Strait of Hormuz dispute deepens
At the heart of the conflict is control of the Strait of Hormuz, which hosts about 20 percent of global oil shipments. After the war began on February 28 with US and Israeli attacks on Iran, Tehran closed the strait to traffic.
The agreement signed on June 17 required Iran to allow free passage of commercial vessels for 60 days. However, Iranian officials argue that, based on Article 5 of the agreement, every ship passing through the strait must coordinate with them. The US states that ships transiting through Omani territorial waters do not need such coordination.
According to Al Jazeera correspondent Rasul Serdar Atac, this difference in interpretation determines the fate of the ceasefire. Iran views coordinated passage of ships as a defensive measure, while Washington emphasizes that keeping the strait open is vital for the global economy.
Congressional reaction and legal threat
Meanwhile, last Tuesday, the US Congress passed a war powers resolution requiring the Trump administration to obtain congressional approval before taking military action against Iran. Representative Ro Khanna, one of the sponsors of the bill, described the latest strikes as a "clear violation of the War Powers Resolution" and said Trump must immediately stop the war, otherwise they will take the matter to court.
Experts warn that the mutual attacks could spiral out of control and rising oil prices could put pressure on the US. Retired naval officer Harlan Ullman said the agreements are fragile and this vicious cycle could escalate.
