Ceasefire Under Strain: How Tit-For-Tat Strikes Brought US, Iran Back To The Edge Of War

Last Updated:June 28, 2026, 09:00 IST

A second tanker attack in the Strait of Hormuz triggered fresh US strikes on Iran, deepening fears that the fragile ceasefire could unravel into a wider conflict.

The United States launched fresh military strikes against multiple Iranian targets on Saturday after Tehran was accused of attacking another oil tanker transiting the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, marking a second straight day of military exchanges that have pushed a fragile ceasefire between the two countries to the brink.

The latest escalation came after the Panama-flagged oil tanker MT Kiku, carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil, was struck by what US officials described as a one-way attack drone while passing through the Strait of Hormuz early Saturday.

The vessel, which had departed a Qatari oil field earlier in the week, was headed to a port in the United Arab Emirates.

No crew members were injured, and no oil spill was reported.

In response, the US military said it carried out strikes on 10 Iranian military targets at the direction of President Donald Trump.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the operation targeted Iranian surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defence sites, drone storage facilities and minelaying capabilities at multiple locations in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

“CENTCOM forces launched strikes today in direct response to continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping," the command said in a statement, adding that Iran had been allowed to honour the ceasefire agreement after Friday’s military action but “elected not to."

TIT-FOR-TAT ESCALATION CONTINUES

The developments mirrored a similar sequence of events over the previous two days, raising fears that the conflict could rapidly spiral despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.

The latest exchange follows Thursday’s drone strike on the Singapore-registered merchant vessel Ever Lovely while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz. No casualties were reported in that attack either.

The United States responded on Friday by striking Iranian military positions near the southern port of Sirik, prompting Iran to retaliate against US military installations in the region.

With Saturday’s reported attack on the MT Kiku followed by another round of US airstrikes, the ceasefire reached between Washington and Tehran earlier this month appears increasingly fragile.

Trump defended the latest military action, saying the United States had struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations as well as coastal radar sites because Tehran had violated the ceasefire agreement once again.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned that the United States would continue to respond if Iran persisted with attacks, adding that there could come a point when Washington would no longer be able to remain restrained.

REGIONAL TENSIONS WIDEN

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it had targeted several locations belonging to what it described as the “US terrorist army in the region," though it did not specify where the attacks took place.

Meanwhile, Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry said several Iranian drones had targeted the Gulf kingdom, describing the incident as “a flagrant threat to the security of citizens and residents." No immediate reports of damage or casualties were released.

Bahrain hosts the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet and has been among the strongest regional critics of Iran.

The latest incident has further heightened concerns that the confrontation could spread beyond the waters of the Gulf.

Iranian state television also reported explosions north of the Strait of Hormuz, while blasts were reported near Sirik and on Qeshm Island following the US strikes.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ EMERGES AS FLASHPOINT

The latest confrontation has once again placed the Strait of Hormuz at the centre of the crisis.

The narrow waterway carries a significant share of the world’s seaborne oil exports and has become a major point of contention in negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

The attacked MT Kiku was reportedly using a shipping route close to the Omani coastline, an alternative corridor increasingly favoured by commercial vessels seeking to reduce risks associated with sailing through waters controlled by Iran.

Following Saturday’s attack, the Joint Maritime Information Centre, overseen by the US Navy, announced that the Omani shipping route would be expanded to accommodate both inbound and outbound commercial traffic.

However, maritime authorities warned that the threat level in the region remains “substantial", citing the continued risk from mines, drone attacks and ongoing military activity.

The latest exchange has cast fresh uncertainty over the interim US-Iran understanding, under which both sides agreed to pursue negotiations on maritime security, freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran’s nuclear programme while maintaining a temporary ceasefire.

With two consecutive days of tanker attacks and retaliatory strikes, those diplomatic efforts are now under growing strain.

About the Author

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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