U.S. and Iran exchange strikes in Strait of Hormuz as preliminary cease-fire collapses

A drone strike by Iran on a cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on June 25 triggered a series of retaliatory attacks that have eroded a preliminary agreement aimed at ending hostilities between the United States and Iran. The incident caused no injuries but marked the start of renewed exchanges of fire.

Iran had warned ships against using an alternative route through the strait that is overseen by U.S. forces, arguing that the route violates the agreement and that it retains the right to control the waterway. The United States and its allies maintain that the strait should remain open and toll-free.

The U.S. responded the next day with strikes on sites it said housed Iranian missiles, drones and coastal radars. Iran retaliated by attacking a tanker on the alternative route and later targeting vessels belonging to Kuwait and Bahrain, both of which host U.S. troops. Subsequent days saw further attacks on three ships, followed by a broader U.S. campaign against Iranian air-defense systems, radars and small boats used by the Revolutionary Guard.

The United States also revoked a waiver that had allowed Iran to sell oil for U.S. dollars, a component of the interim deal, and reinstated a naval blockade of Iranian ports. In the latest round of strikes, U.S. forces hit bridges and power stations in southern Iran, claiming to have destroyed a tower used for maritime surveillance.

Iran reported that the U.S. attacks have killed at least 46 people and injured more than 400 since the fighting resumed. President Donald Trump warned that any further attacks on shipping could lead to a harsher response, while also suggesting that any escalation would occur quickly.

The escalating exchange has raised concerns that the conflict could expand, further destabilizing the Middle East and affecting global energy markets.