The situation in the Middle East has heated up again after a drone attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz. The United States has carried out military strikes on Iranian missiles, drone storage facilities and coastal radar installations, the US Central Command (Centcom) said.
In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed to target US military installations in the Middle East.
The situation rapidly deteriorated after a drone attack on the Singapore-based merchant ship Ever Lovely in the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reported on Saturday (June 27). The US launched a military operation, citing the incident as a violation of a recent memorandum of understanding.
The CENTCOM statement said the strikes targeted Iranian military infrastructure because Tehran’s actions threatened freedom of international navigation. Shortly after the attack, explosions were also reported near the port of Sirik in southern Iran.
The IRGC, on the other hand, claimed to have retaliated against US bases in the Middle East, warning that any future attacks would be met with a harsher and more comprehensive response.
New uncertainty over MoU
The recent exchange of attacks between the two countries has raised fresh questions about the future of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding signed on June 17. The agreement agreed to permanently halt military operations on various fronts, including Lebanon, and resolve the dispute through negotiations. But after the new conflict, both sides are accusing each other of violating the agreement.
The impact of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping lanes for energy supplies. Recent tensions have raised new concerns in international energy markets. The United Nations has temporarily suspended an ongoing operation to rescue more than 11,000 sailors due to disruptions to shipping.
Meanwhile, Oman has launched a temporary maritime corridor in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to keep shipping moving. The country said that international ships will be able to use the corridor without any additional fees, subject to certain rules.