Iran Accuses United States of Violating Ceasefire and Tension Rises in the Strait of Hormuz
The attacks revived doubts about compliance with the agreement on the security of the Strait of Hormuz.
Strait of Hormuz Photo: EFE
Tension between Iran and the United States escalated again after Tehran accused Washington of committing a "flagrant violation" of the agreement protocol signed to end the war in the Middle East. The accusation came after US bombings on Iranian territory on Friday, which led to a military response from the Revolutionary Guard and renewed uncertainty about security in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic corridor for global oil and gas trade.
The exchange of military actions occurs as both sides had entered a 60-day phase of negotiations to reach a final agreement. The new escalation casts doubt on the continuity of that process and keeps international attention on one of the world's main energy transit points.
Why does Iran accuse the United States of breaching the agreement?
The US bombings, the first known since the signing of the agreement protocol on June 17, occurred after, according to the US military, " the previous day's attack on a commercial vessel transiting the strait". Washington said it had attacked " missile and drone storage sites and coastal radar positions in Iran".
The Iranian response was immediate. Tehran denounced a " flagrant violation" of both " the United Nations Charter" and the agreement protocol reached between the parties. Shortly after, the Revolutionary Guard, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic, reported that they had attacked US positions in the region.
They also issued a warning about a possible intensification of the conflict. " If the aggression is repeated, our response will be broader," they stated.
From the United States, Vice President JD Vance defended his country's position and stated that Iran had signed a commitment that must be respected. " Iran has signed a ceasefire agreement. We have respected it. If they have disagreements over the implementation of the agreement protocol, they can pick up the phone. But violence will only breed more violence," he wrote on social media X.
President Donald Trump, for his part, called the attack on the cargo ship a "stupid violation" of the ceasefire.
Strait of Hormuz, on the route itself, key for energy transport Photo: EFE
The Strait of Hormuz once again becomes the center of tension
The new confrontation also raised concerns about the stability of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for international oil and gas transport. Amid rising tensions, Bahrain reported that it was targeted by several Iranian drones and accused Tehran of " sabotaging peace efforts".
At the same time, the British maritime agency UKMTO reported that an oil tanker was hit by an unidentified projectile while sailing through the strait. According to the agency, " the crew is safe and sound".
Hours earlier, Iranian state television had reported an explosion at a dock in Sirik, in the south of the country, as well as warning shots against " vessels in violation" transiting the strait.
Despite the tension, maritime traffic continued in the area, which had been reopened by Iran after the agreement protocol. However, several ships sailed on routes not approved by Tehran, despite the warning from the Iranian maritime authority that " any passage outside the defined framework would not benefit from safe passage guarantees".
In this context, H.A. Hellyer of the Royal United Services Institute in London considered that Iran should maintain " calibrated, low-intensity coercive actions in and around the Strait of Hormuz (...) in order to maintain constant pressure on international shipping without triggering a wider conflict".
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) reported that the evacuation of approximately 600 ships and 11,000 seafarers who remain blocked in the Gulf since the start of the war will resume when there are " additional confirmations" on security guarantees. According to the organization, since Tuesday about 2,500 seafarers and 115 vessels have already been evacuated.
Tehran warned of "serious consequences" for support to the US Photo: iStock
Iran's economy and the Israel-Lebanon conflict remain under pressure
While military tensions persist, the Iranian economy continues to reflect the impact of the conflict. According to official statistics published on Saturday, inflation reached nearly 89% year-on-year in June.
Among the products with the highest increases is meat, whose price rose 178.2%, in a scenario where the country's economy already faced years of international sanctions before the conflict. In parallel, another front of tension remains open between Israel and Lebanon. The leader of the pro-Iranian Lebanese movement Hezbollah, Naim Qasem, called the framework peace agreement signed between the two countries a " grave mistake" and urged the Lebanese government to retract " its sins, which are ruining Lebanon".
Meanwhile, Israel carried out new bombings in the south of the neighboring country, leaving one dead, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced a " prolonged stay" of the army in Lebanese territory and explained that the withdrawal will depend on the disarmament of Hezbollah, a condition contemplated in the framework agreement that seeks to establish " lasting peace and security" between the two countries.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the agreement " historic" and said it represents " a blow to Iran and to Hezbollah". In contrast, his ally Itamar Ben Gvir rejected the pact, calling it a "big mistake", considering that there is no guarantee that the Lebanese state will disarm the Shiite movement.
For his part, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun communicated to Donald Trump that the Lebanese state "will assume its responsibilities" to implement the recent agreement reached with Israel.
The reactivation of hostilities between Iran and the United States, along with the persistent tension between Israel and Lebanon, keeps uncertainty open about regional stability and the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic point whose operational continuity remains decisive for international energy trade.
Carolina Morales Herrera Portafolio Journalist
