Tanker struck in Strait of Hormuz as U.S.-Iran tensions escalate

A tanker in the Strait ⁠of Hormuz was reported to have been struck by a projectile on Saturday, the latest escalation of tensions between the U.S. and Iran in recent days following an interim agreement to end hostilities in the region.

The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Centre said a vessel in the strait was hit by an “unidentified projectile,” with damage to the bridge but the crew was reported to be safe. Bahrain also on Saturday condemned an Iranian drone strike as a “blatant violation” of its sovereignty.

The fresh attacks come as the U.S. and Iran are supposed to be engaging in a 60-day ceasefire as they hold talks to end their war. But both have accused the other of violating their end of the agreement.

The U.S. military struck Iran on Friday after President Donald Trump accused the Islamic Republic of “foolish violation” of a ceasefire agreement by launching drone attacks at ships in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command said its aircraft “struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites.”

That comes after a drone attack by Iran on Thursday struck the Singapore-flagged cargo ship Ever Lovely in the strait off the coast of Oman, Central Command said in a post on X. The vessel continued on its way through the strait, a major thoroughfare for oil shipments.

Iran has not directly commented on reports of specific attacks on ships. However, state media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp had fired “warning shots” towards unspecified ships not approved by Iran attempting to pass through channels, Reuters reported.

The renewed attacks come more than a week after Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at developing a permanent peace deal to end the war between their two nations.

Vice President JD Vance traveled to Switzerland last weekend for talks with Iranian counterparts about that deal.

Vance, in a post on X on Friday, wrote, “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,” Vance wrote. “But violence will be met with violence.

Shortly before Central Command announced the retaliatory strikes on Friday, Trump was asked by a reporter at the White House if there would be consequences for Iran for violating the ceasefire.

“You’ll find out,” the president replied.

After the U.S. strikes, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said in a statement: “Following the violation of the ceasefire by the Zionist regime in southern Lebanon, a few hours ago, the treaty-breaking US regime, as always, violated its commitments and, under various pretexts, attacked the coasts of the Islamic Republic of Iran with an airstrike due to the passage of a violating ship through an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz.”

“The IRGC Navy responded to this aggression by striking the positions of the US terrorist army in the region,” the IRGC said.

“According to clause 5 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, the arrangements for controlling passage in the Strait of Hormuz are with the Islamic Republic of Iran; however, the US, by provoking various parties, sought to violate this commitment, to which a necessary response was given, and this will be the case from now on.”

“If the aggression is repeated, our response will be broader than this,” the IRGC said.

Ebrahim Azizi, the head of the national security commission of the Iranian parliament, in a post on X said, “The U.S. attacked Iran in the middle of negotiations once again.”

“The failed U.S. President has shown he has no commitment to the principles of negotiation or a ceasefire,” Azizi said.

“This reckless violation of the ceasefire will, as always, lead to retreat and regret on their part. The blame game does not work anymore.”

— CNBC’s Dan Mangan contributed to this report.