US President Donald Trump on Friday, June 26, accused Iran of violating the ceasefire agreement by launching drones at ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. This included the attack on a cargo vessel that was struck off the coast of Oman on Thursday.
This comes after Tehran insisted that it would have control over the Strait of Hormuz and warned other Gulf nations not to side with Washington.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran shot at least four One Way Attack Drones at Ships transversing the Strait of Hormuz. One of the Drones solidly hit the upper deck of a large and very expensive Cargo Carrying Ship,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
He added, “Damage was done, but the Ship was able to proceed on its way. We knocked down three other Drones. Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement.”
His statement came on the heels of the International Maritime Organization, a UN agency, pausing its efforts towards evacuating ships and seafarers stranded in the strait.
Earlier, Iran expressed anger over the “interventionist, irresponsible and provocative” statement by the US and six Gulf states that rejected its assertion that it could charge tolls on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
“Safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz cannot be guaranteed under ambiguous arrangements, parallel routes or decision-making that does not take Iran’s role as a coastal state into account,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi wrote on X.
According to Bloomberg News, Oman told allies that ships going via Hormuz may have to pay. The country lies on the opposite side of the strait from Iran.