Tensions in West Asia escalated sharply after the United States launched strikes on Iranian military targets on Friday in response to an
attack on a commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Iran’s Revolutionary Guards to retaliate by targeting US military positions in the region.
The latest escalation began after Washington accused Tehran of attacking a cargo vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command said it struck Iranian missile and drone storage sites along with coastal radar positions on Friday, describing the operation as retaliation for “unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces” that “clearly violated the ceasefire.”
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The military said the strikes were “a powerful response to yesterday’s attack on a commercial ship that was transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”
‘Foolish violation’: Trump accuses Iran of ceasefire breach
Iranian state television later reported an explosion at Taherouyeh pier in the southern port city of Sirik, citing a military source who said the blast was caused by a projectile impact.
The exchange has renewed concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route, even as Washington and Tehran continue negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent settlement to the conflict that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.
Iran has warned vessels not to enter or leave the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz without its permission. Despite the warning, commercial traffic has continued, with shipping tracker Kpler reporting that around half of the 42 vessels that transited the strait on Thursday used a southern route along the coast of Oman that had not been approved by Tehran.
Iran targeted US sites in response to strike
The confrontation intensified further after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced on Saturday that they had targeted US military positions in the Gulf region in retaliation for the American strikes.
The Guards did not specify which US positions were targeted but warned that any further military action would be met with an even stronger response.
“If the aggression is repeated, our response will be broader than this,” the Guards said, according to Iranian state television.
Earlier, semi-official ISNA news agency had published a statement attributed to the Revolutionary Guards saying their response to the latest US attack would be “swift and decisive,” before later deleting it.
Vance warns US will respond to any Iran attack with ‘violence’
US Vice President JD Vance also issued a stern warning to Tehran following the exchange.
“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. But violence will be met with violence,” Vance posted on X, referring to the memorandum of understanding intended to halt nearly four months of conflict.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADIsrael-Lebanon sign framework to end conflict
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continued on another front as
Israel, Lebanon and the United States signed a framework agreement in Washington aimed at paving the way for peace along the Israel-Lebanon border.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the accord as one that “begins to put in place a framework for lasting peace and security,” while adding, “It’s the beginning of the beginning. There’s a lot of work ahead.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the agreement, saying it would allow the Lebanese army to return to two pilot areas in southern Lebanon while Israeli forces remain in a security zone until Hezbollah is disarmed.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called the framework a “first step” toward allowing displaced civilians to return home under Lebanese sovereignty. However, Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah rejected the agreement, arguing that it undermined broader negotiations linked to the US-Iran ceasefire.
Iran’s nuclear programme
Separately, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi stressed that any final agreement between Washington and Tehran must include stringent monitoring of
Iran’s nuclear programme.
“The government of Iran has declared quite clearly that this is not their intention,” Grossi said of developing nuclear weapons.
“But of course intentions are not enough. We have to have a very strong verification system in place… as soon as is practicable,” he added, warning that the agency had so far “barely initiated” talks with Iran.
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