Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters accused the United States of violating the fragile ceasefire by targeting an Iranian oil tanker near Jask and another vessel approaching Fujairah, as well as conducting air attacks on civilian coastal areas including Bandar Khamir, Sirik, and Qeshm Island. The spokesperson declared that Iranian Armed Forces immediately retaliated by attacking U.S. military vessels east of the Strait of Hormuz and south of Chabahar, reportedly inflicting significant damage.
The accusation comes amid escalating tensions surrounding Operation Project Freedom, the U.S. Navy’s initiative to escort commercial vessels through the contested waterway. CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper confirmed earlier this week that U.S. forces destroyed six IRGC small boats attempting to attack commercial shipping, while Iranian forces launched drones and missiles against the mission. Iran disputes the American account, with state media claiming two civilian cargo boats were hit, killing five civilians.
The conflicting narratives highlight the precarious state of the ceasefire, which both sides accuse the other of undermining. The U.S. has maintained a naval blockade of Iranian ports since April 13, which Tehran considers a breach of the truce. Iranian officials, including parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, have warned that Tehran has “not even begun yet” to fully respond to American operations.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine characterized recent exchanges as “low, harassing fire” below the threshold of restarting major combat operations, though he cautioned that “no adversary should mistake our current restraint for a lack of resolve.” The U.S. has deployed over 100 military aircraft to patrol the strait, alongside two aircraft carriers enforcing the blockade.
President Trump briefly paused Project Freedom on May 6 citing “great progress” toward a possible agreement, but the latest Iranian claims suggest military confrontation is intensifying rather than de-escalating. The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint where both nations’ narratives diverge sharply—Washington frames its actions as defensive freedom-of-navigation operations, while Tehran portrays them as aggressive ceasefire violations warranting armed response.
Iran Strikes U.S. Vessels Near Hormuz
Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya HQ accuses the U.S. of violating the ceasefire by attacking an Iranian oil tanker and civilian coastal areas, claiming significant damage was inflicted on American military vessels near the Strait of Hormuz in immediate retaliation.
