President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran had attacked commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz with at least four one-way attack drones, calling the action a “foolish violation” of the ceasefire agreement reached between Washington and Tehran on June 17.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “The Islamic Republic of Iran shot at least four One Way Attack Drones at Ships transversing 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. We knocked down three other Drones. Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement.”
The president did not address the status of ongoing negotiations with Iran.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded later Friday in a post on X, emphasizing Iran’s position as a coastal state with authority over the waterway. “Safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with ambiguous arrangements, parallel routes, or decision-making outside of Iran’s considerations as the coastal state, cannot be guaranteed,” Gharibabadi wrote. He added that any credible framework “must be based on coordination with Iran and the provisions of paragraph five of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,” warning that otherwise “the outcome will be the suspension of the designated parallel route.”
The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Trump and Iran’s president on June 17, established the ceasefire and opened passage through the strait. The fifth paragraph of the agreement states that Iran will use its “best efforts” to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days, according to The Hill.
On Thursday, the United States issued a joint statement with the Gulf Cooperation Council affirming that “free, unconditional, and unrestricted navigation” through the Strait of Hormuz is guaranteed under international law. The statement said the ministers “rejected any tolls, fees, or attempts to assert control over the strait.” The council includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. The June 17 ceasefire was intended to de-escalate months of direct military confrontation between the United States and Iran, which had included U.S. strikes on Iranian targets and Iranian attacks on U.S. military facilities and allied shipping.