Iran launched drone attacks on targets it claimed were linked to U.S. forces on Saturday, alleging the strikes were in retaliation for U.S. airstrikes on its southern coast the previous day. These actions have heightened tensions and risk undermining a cease-fire agreement intended to end a four-month conflict.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that the drone strikes were "defensive attacks" but did not specify the locations targeted within the "U.S. terrorist army in the region."
Bahrain's Foreign Ministry confirmed the presence of "a number of Iranian drones" within its territory, describing the incident as "a flagrant threat to the security of citizens and residents."
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported that one of its tankers was struck by an unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran did not claim responsibility for this incident, which caused damage to the vessel's bridge but resulted in no reported injuries.
The IRGC also acknowledged firing "warning shots" toward vessels attempting to navigate unauthorized channels in the strait, signaling a new requirement for ships to obtain Iranian permits before transiting.
The U.S. has not yet issued a comment on the reported strikes.
The exchange of attacks follows U.S. airstrikes on Friday that targeted Iranian drone storage facilities and coastal radar sites. U.S. officials stated these strikes were in response to an "unwarranted aggression" against the M/V Ever Lovely, a Singapore-flagged cargo ship attacked on Thursday while traversing the Strait of Hormuz.
Vice President JD Vance affirmed on X that "Iran signed a ceasefire agreement. We have honored it. If they have disagreements about how the MOU is being applied, they can pick up the phone. But violence will be met with violence."
Following the attack on the British tanker, the Joint Maritime Information Center issued a warning about a "substantial" threat to shipping in the region. Mariners were advised of potential mines and expected naval activity during clearance operations. The center also indicated plans to establish a new route in Oman to manage inbound and outbound traffic through the strait.
The United Nations-run International Maritime Organization announced that the plan to evacuate stranded ships from the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz would be postponed until safety assurances could be confirmed.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical point of contention in ongoing negotiations for a permanent cease-fire. The U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding allows a 60-day window to resolve outstanding issues, including the transit of commercial vessels through the waterway, Tehran's ballistic missile program, and its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian Parliament's national security commission, asserted on Friday that "the Strait of Hormuz is governed by Iran, so: Respect the rules."