File image.
United States President Donald Trump on June 25 accused Iran of violating the memorandum of understanding that the sides signed last week, claiming that the Islamic Republic launched at least four “attack drones” at ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
One of the drones solidly hit the upper deck of a large and very expensive cargo carrying Ship. Damage was done, but the ship was able to proceed on its way,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. ”We knocked down three other drones.”
“Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our ceasefire agreement,” Trump said, without specifying whether there would be any consequences.
The remarks came after Iran’s IRIB reported that three foreign oil tankers were turned back toward the Persian Gulf after attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in an “unauthorized” manner.
The state-run broadcaster said that the vessels had sought to transit through the southern corridor of the strait without coordinating with Iranian authorities, prompting intervention by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy.
The navy issued a warning early in the morning to all vessels in the Gulf and the Sea of Oman, declaring that a newly announced alternative route for crossing the strait — established by Oman and the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) to evacuate around 11,000 stranded mariners without coordination with Tehran — was “illegal, unacceptable and highly dangerous,” according to the report.
The international shipping agency announced the closure of the route earlier in the day after an attack on a vessel in the Gulf of Oman.
The vessel, most likely the same one Trump spoke of, was hit on June 25 was not traveling under the IMO’s evacuation framework, which began on June 23.
Despite the attack, the IMO announced that it is working with countries to reopen the route and resume the evacuation process.
Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez revealed that 115 vessels and around 2,500 seafarers were able to sail through the strait before evacuations were paused.
He added that the agency is working “vigilantly” with several parties and was having conversations with countries — particularly Oman, the U.S., and Iran — “in order to find these guarantees that were provided at the beginning, that vessels will not be targeted”.
“As soon as I get further confirmations of that, we’re ready to re-initiate the process of evacuation,” he said, though he added that he cannot provide a timeframe for a resumption.
Latest developments have confirmed Iran’s de facto control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key passage for about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
As part of the memorandum of understanding signed last week to end the war with the U.S., the Islamic Republic reopened the Strait. However, disagreement over its future continues — the deal bars Iran from charging tolls for the next 60 days but allows for the possibility afterward.
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nukes coming to tehran soon…heheheh