US Strikes Iran Again as Ceasefire Deteriorates; IRGC Retaliates with Missiles and Drones
For the second consecutive night, the US military struck Iranian targets in response to Tehran's continued attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions as a fragile ceasefire agreement continues to unravel and President Trump threatens further action.
Escalating Military Exchange
For the second straight night, US forces have struck "multiple targets" in Iran in response to Tehran's "aggression" against commercial shipping, as the fragile cease-fire in the Middle East continues to fray and US President Donald Trump threatened to wipe out the Islamic republic. Hours later, Iran's hard-line Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said it had fired missiles and drones at US-linked sites at 2-3 a.m. on June 28 in retaliation, with Kuwait and Bahrain reporting incoming projectiles.
Commercial Shipping Under Fire
US Central Command (CENTCOM) on June 27 said its forces launched the strikes in "direct response to continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping," targeting Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities. After yesterday's US strikes in response to the Iranian attack on M/V Ever Lovely, Iran was given a chance to honor the cease-fire agreement but elected not to when its forces launched a one-way attack drone that hit M/T Kiku this morning at 4:30 a.m. Maritime security firm Vanguard Tech has identified the vessel as the Panama-flagged oil tanker KIKU.
Threat to Peace Framework
The IRGC also threatened that any "cease-fire violations" will "bring all ongoing diplomatic processes to a complete halt." As the US-Israeli war with Iran continues to impact and shape the region, journalists from RFE/RL's Central Newsroom and Iranian service, Radio Farda, deliver ongoing updates and analysis. Iranian media reported that explosions were heard in southern coastal region of Sirik, which has been hit multiple times by US forces in recent weeks.
Regional Instability
The military escalation underscores the fragility of the recent US-Iran ceasefire agreement. While both sides have attempted diplomatic engagement, the repeated attacks on shipping infrastructure suggest that hardliners on both sides remain opposed to peace efforts. The impact extends beyond US-Iran tensions, as in the offshoot war in Lebanon, that country's leader has told Trump in a call that he hopes Washington can help prevent violations of a framework. The Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of global oil transits, faces increasing instability, raising concerns about energy markets and international commerce.