Iran accused the United States of breaching a fragile ceasefire on Tuesday after American forces allegedly launched strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears that efforts to end the war could collapse once again.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry described the attacks in the southern province of Hormozgan as a “gross violation” of the ceasefire, which has been in place for nearly seven weeks. Iranian media earlier reported explosions in the area during the early hours of Tuesday.
The United States, however, defended the military action, claiming the strikes were carried out for defensive purposes and targeted missile sites as well as boats allegedly attempting to plant naval mines near the strategic waterway.
The renewed tension came as Israel intensified military operations in Lebanon, launching more than 120 air strikes in one of the heaviest bombardments seen in weeks, according to Lebanese security sources.
Iran has reportedly been pushing for any future peace agreement to include a halt to Israeli attacks in Lebanon, where clashes involving Hezbollah continue despite an earlier ceasefire arrangement reached in April.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations to stop the conflict may still take “a few days”, despite earlier signs of progress between both sides toward an initial agreement aimed at restoring stability and reopening shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
The proposed agreement is expected to establish a 30-day framework to end hostilities and resume maritime traffic, while more difficult issues such as Iran’s nuclear programme would be discussed in a second phase of negotiations.
Iranian negotiators are also believed to be seeking the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets as part of the preliminary deal.
The war, which erupted after US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, has caused major disruption to global oil supplies and pushed up fuel, fertiliser and food prices worldwide.
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most critical energy shipping routes — has dropped sharply since the conflict began, causing fresh concern in international markets. Brent crude prices reportedly climbed by around 3.5 per cent on Tuesday to nearly US$100 a barrel.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned they reserve the right to retaliate following the latest US strikes, claiming their forces had shot down one American drone and opened fire on another drone and a fighter jet that allegedly entered Iranian airspace.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a fiery statement during the annual hajj pilgrimage, declaring that anti-American and anti-Israel slogans would continue to unite the Islamic world and oppressed communities globally.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that Washington’s primary objective is to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, an allegation Tehran continues to deny.
At the same time, Trump has also used the regional crisis to push more Arab and Muslim nations, including Saudi Arabia, to join the Abraham Accords aimed at normalising ties with Israel.
Saudi Arabia, however, has maintained that it will not sign the agreement without a clear pathway towards Palestinian statehood.
Thousands of people have reportedly been killed since the wider regional conflict erupted, with most casualties recorded in Lebanon and Iran.
