Hormuz attack strains fragile US-Iran truce

Bahrain reported an Iranian drone attack and a tanker was hit in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, putting a fragile US-Iran ceasefire under its sharpest test since Washington and Tehran agreed to pause fighting and reopen the Gulf’s most important energy corridor.

The incidents triggered new US strikes on Iranian military targets and prompted fresh accusations from both sides that the other had breached the interim understanding. Bahrain said its territory had been targeted by an Iranian drone attack, while maritime authorities reported that a tanker in the strait was damaged after being struck by an unidentified projectile. The crew was reported safe.

The vessel was identified as the Panama-flagged M/T Kiku, a tanker carrying about 2 million barrels of crude. The strike hit the bridge area, the ship’s command centre, according to maritime security information circulated after the incident. There was no immediate public claim of responsibility, but Washington blamed Iran and said the attack followed an earlier strike on the Singapore-flagged M/V Ever Lovely near the Omani side of the strait.

US forces launched another round of attacks on Iranian military infrastructure, including surveillance systems, drone facilities, air defence sites and assets linked to maritime operations. The strikes followed a similar operation targeting missile and drone storage facilities and coastal radar installations after the earlier attack on the Ever Lovely.

Tehran rejected Washington’s version of events and said it had acted in response to US violations of the ceasefire. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it had struck US-linked military targets in the Gulf, including sites associated with American forces. Bahrain and Kuwait condemned the attacks, saying they threatened regional security and civilian safety.

The escalation has exposed the weakness of the interim arrangement reached after weeks of conflict disrupted shipping, lifted insurance costs and forced emergency planning across Gulf capitals. The understanding was meant to create a 60-day window for talks on maritime security, Iran’s nuclear programme and the wider regional confrontation involving Israel, Lebanon and Iran-aligned groups.

The Strait of Hormuz remains the central flashpoint. Roughly a fifth of global oil shipments move through the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, making any disruption a direct threat to energy markets. Iran has insisted that vessels using certain lanes must comply with its security instructions, while Washington has rejected any move to impose control or fees over international shipping routes.

Shipping traffic through the strait has slowed as operators assess the danger to commercial vessels. Maritime security advisories have warned of a substantial threat level, citing attacks on merchant ships and the risk of mines or drones. The International Maritime Organization paused evacuation operations for vessels stranded by the earlier fighting after one ship was hit.

Oil markets have so far avoided a severe price shock, but traders remain alert to any sustained closure or wider conflict. Brent crude had eased before the latest flare-up as hopes of a diplomatic track grew, though analysts say even limited attacks on tankers can quickly raise freight rates, war-risk premiums and delivery costs.

President Donald Trump warned that Washington could take further military action if Iran continued attacks on shipping or US-linked targets. Vice President JD Vance said Tehran had to honour the ceasefire and resolve disputes through diplomacy rather than force. Iran, for its part, said it would defend its sovereignty and respond to attacks on its territory or regional interests.

The tension comes as Gulf states try to prevent the confrontation from spilling deeper into their territory. Bahrain hosts the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet and has long been sensitive to any direct Iranian pressure. Kuwait also reported security concerns after Iran’s claimed retaliation, while other Gulf governments have urged restraint and protection of shipping lanes.

The ceasefire was already under strain before Saturday’s attacks. Washington accused Iran of violating the deal by targeting the Ever Lovely after Tehran warned vessels against transiting without permission. Tehran accused the US of using the ceasefire to reposition forces and maintain pressure near Iranian waters.