U.S., Iran trade strikes putting new strain on West Asia truce
Iran launched attacks on U.S. sites in the Gulf in response to American strikes on the country, state media said on Saturday (June 27, 2026)
Iran launched attacks on U.S. sites in the Gulf in response to American strikes on the country, state media said on Saturday (June 27, 2026), after Washington accused Tehran of attacking one of its cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The trading of fire raised questions about efforts to keep the crucial waterway open while Washington and Tehran negotiate a final settlement to a war that began on February 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the latest American strikes, against Iranian missile and drone storage sites and coastal radar positions, were a response to "unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces" that "clearly violated the ceasefire". Iranian state television, citing a reporter in the southern port city of Sirik, said an explosion was heard late Friday (June 27, 2026) at Taherouyeh pier. It quoted an informed military source as saying the blast was caused by a projectile impact in the area. "Sirik Port is operating normally, and no damage has been reported to its equipment or facilities," Mehr news agency reported following the explosion. CENTCOM described the operation as "a powerful response to yesterday's attack on a commercial ship that was transiting the Strait of Hormuz".
U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier denounced what he described as an Iranian drone strike on the vessel, saying "obviously, this is a foolish violation of our ceasefire agreement". Vice President J.D. Vance issued a direct warning, posting on X that "violence will be met with violence" if Iran carries out any further attacks. Minutes later, on Saturday (June 27) morning, Iran time, state television reported that the Revolutionary Guards said they had targeted U.S. sites in the Gulf region in retaliation for the American strikes. "If the aggression is repeated, our response will be broader than this," the Guards said, according to a post by state TV on Telegram. Iran has warned vessels not to enter or leave the Gulf through the strait without permission, but ships have continued to move, some using a route not authorised by Tehran. Despite the latest flare-up, oil prices have fallen sharply on hopes that traffic through Hormuz — a strategic waterway which normally sees around a fifth of the world's oil and gas exports — would keep recovering. Lebanon framework Israel and Lebanon hailed an agreement signed Friday (June 26) with the U.S. to pave a way towards peace on their front in the war, although Iran-backed Hezbollah warned the deal would thwart plans to resolve the broader conflict.
The BriefWire