IRIA News

7 minute read

The United States and Iran exchanged a new round of military strikes on June 27, 2026, marking a serious escalation since the two countries signed a Pakistan-brokered memorandum of understanding earlier this month aimed at ending months of conflict.

Both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire agreement, raising fresh concerns about the future of regional stability and the security of global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest exchange began after the United States launched airstrikes against multiple military targets inside Iran. U.S. Central Command said the operation was carried out in response to an Iranian drone attack on the Panama-flagged oil tanker MT Kiku, which was carrying around two million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the U.S. military, American aircraft targeted missile and drone storage facilities, surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, coastal radar installations, air defense positions, and mine-laying capabilities located in and around the strategic waterway. Iranian media reported explosions in the southern regions of Sirik and Qeshm following the strikes.

In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it had launched ballistic missiles and drones against U.S. military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain. The group claimed it destroyed eight major military installations, including facilities at Ali Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Port Salman, Bahrain.

U.S. Navy and Air Force fighter jets conducted strikes tonight on 10 Iranian military targets at multiple locations in and near the Strait of Hormuz for Iran's drone attack on M/T Kiku. pic.twitter.com/Z0TLZRqmF6

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 28, 2026

However, a U.S. official said there were no reported American casualties and no significant damage to U.S. military facilities following the attacks.

Air raid sirens sounded twice across Bahrain on Saturday as authorities urged residents to remain calm and move to the nearest safe location. Kuwait also activated its air defense systems after reporting incoming missile and drone threats.

Ceasefire Agreement Under Pressure

The renewed military exchanges have placed significant strain on the ceasefire agreement reached in mid-June through Pakistan’s mediation. The memorandum of understanding, signed by both Washington and Tehran, committed both countries and their allies to refrain from initiating military operations or threatening the use of force against one another.

The agreement also included provisions guaranteeing the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days without tolls or additional charges. Both governments now accuse the other of breaching those commitments.

U.S. Central Command argued that Iran violated the agreement by attacking commercial shipping, describing the strike on the MT Kiku as continued aggression against international maritime traffic. American officials said Tehran had been allowed to uphold the ceasefire but instead chose further military action.

Iran rejected those claims, arguing that the United States violated the agreement first by attacking Iranian territory. Tehran insisted that the targeted vessels had been using routes not authorized by Iranian authorities and accused Washington of using those incidents as a pretext for additional military operations.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry described the latest U.S. attacks as a blatant violation of the ceasefire, saying they demonstrated that Washington could not be trusted to honor its commitments. The IRGC also warned that continued U.S. military action would halt the implementation of the memorandum entirely.

Trump Issues Fresh Warning

U.S. President Donald Trump sharply escalated his rhetoric following the latest exchange of strikes. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said American forces had struck Iranian missile, drone, and radar facilities after Tehran violated the ceasefire agreement.

Trump warned that while the United States had acted with restraint, that approach might not continue. “There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started,” Trump wrote.

The U.S. president added that if the conflict resumed on a larger scale, “the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist.” The comments came as U.S. officials continued to maintain that negotiations with Tehran remained possible, provided Iran complied with the terms of the agreement.

Strait of Hormuz Remains at the Center of the Crisis

The Strait of Hormuz continues to be the central flashpoint in the conflict. The waterway carries a significant share of the world’s oil and natural gas exports, making any disruption a major concern for global energy markets.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced that they have strengthened measures to control maritime traffic through the strait and warned that vessels using routes not approved by Tehran would face stronger action than before.

According to Iranian authorities, the only authorized shipping corridor currently runs along Iran’s coastline. The IRGC previously warned commercial vessels against entering or leaving the Gulf through unauthorized routes.

The latest U.S. strikes followed another round of American attacks a day earlier, which Washington said were carried out after an Iranian drone struck the Singapore-flagged cargo ship MV Ever Lovely. Tehran argued that the vessel had also ignored Iran’s navigation instructions.

Earlier this week, President Trump said Iran had assured the United States that no tolls, insurance fees, or additional charges would be imposed on commercial shipping. He warned that any deviation from those commitments would immediately jeopardize ongoing negotiations.

Meanwhile, Iran’s chief negotiator said management of the Strait of Hormuz would never return to its pre-war system, signaling Tehran’s intention to maintain greater control over navigation in the strategic waterway.

The closure and partial disruption of the Strait earlier this year, following the outbreak of war between the United States, Israel, and Iran, triggered sharp increases in global oil prices and disrupted international trade.

Regional Tensions Continue to Expand

The latest US-Iran confrontation comes as broader regional tensions remain unresolved. Israel carried out new strikes in Lebanon as part of its ongoing conflict with Hezbollah despite a separate US-backed framework agreement signed with Lebanon aimed at reducing hostilities.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected the agreement, calling it humiliating and arguing that any lasting peace required the full implementation of the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the Lebanon agreement as a historic achievement that weakened both Iran and Hezbollah. However, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir criticized the deal, arguing that only Israeli military operations could ensure Hezbollah’s disarmament.

Israel has also maintained that its forces will continue occupying a security zone in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is fully disarmed, while Hezbollah continues demanding a complete Israeli withdrawal from the area.

F-35 fighter jets take off and land aboard USS Tripoli (LHA 7), the flagship for the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group/31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. U.S. Sailors and Marines are operating in the Arabian Sea. pic.twitter.com/Ln2L3dfGOj

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 25, 2026

Uncertain Path Ahead

The latest exchange of attacks highlights the fragile nature of the ceasefire that has been in place for less than two weeks.

Although both Washington and Tehran continue to express support for negotiations, repeated military exchanges and conflicting interpretations of the ceasefire terms have increased the risk of a broader regional escalation.

With commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz once again under pressure and military activity expanding across the Gulf and Lebanon, the success of the Pakistan-mediated peace process now faces one of its most significant tests since the agreement was signed.