President Trump on Friday acknowledged Tehran’s drone strike on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz a day earlier, calling it a “foolish violation” of the cease-fire agreement reached in the US-Iran memorandum of understanding.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran shot at least four One Way Attack Drones at Ships transversing the Strait of Hormuz,” the president posted to Truth Social. “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,” he added.
The administration struck a more cautious tone immediately after the reported attack on Thursday, with a US official saying only: “We are aware of these reports and looking into them.”
“President Trump has been clear that Iran cannot subvert the free flow of traffic in the strait,” the person said.
The strike threatened the fragile cease-fire and associated MOU, and risked renewed tensions in one of the world’s most strategically important shipping lanes.
The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption, making any attack on commercial vessels a concern for energy markets and international trade.
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It was not immediately clear whether the administration planned any military or diplomatic response beyond Trump’s public condemnation.
Iranian officials did not immediately respond to Trump’s declaration on Friday.
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The attack targeted a ship in a US and Oman-backed path separate from Tehran’s previously announced safe route, and came after Tehran warned any ship not following its sanctioned way through the Strait was “unacceptable and completely dangerous.”
The new route, devised to allow ships that had been stuck in the Strait for more than 100 days, was agreed upon by the US and Oman on Tuesday — but the Iranian regime whined that it was announced without their input.
“Without notice or coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, some authorities announced a new route for ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz,” the hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seethed in a statement Thursday morning.
“It is hereby notified to all that the only authorized route for passing through the Strait of Hormuz is the one declared by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the IRGC added. “Vessel traffic outside these routes is extremely dangerous and prohibited. Violators will be dealt with.”
