ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US President Donald Trump on Friday accused Iran of violating the ceasefire, saying Tehran fired at least four one-way attack drones at ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing negotiations following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to end the US-Iran war.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran shot at least four One Way Attack Drones at Ships transversing the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump posted on Truth social platform, noting that “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.”
The president further added that “we knocked down three other Drones. Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement.”
This comes as Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared on Thursday that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be possible only via routes designated by Iran, rejecting a newly announced shipping corridor established by Oman in coordination with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18 to open the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic. The agreement followed months of diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran after a six-week war involving the US, Israel and Iran that began in late February. Discussions focused on Iran’s nuclear program and regional security, including maritime stability in the Strait of Hormuz.
Any transit outside its framework "is not guaranteed safe passage and will lack insurance coverage and related liabilities," warned IRGC’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority on Thursday, adding that the "consequences of transiting unauthorized routes" would be the sole responsibility of the vessel's owner, operator, and master.
Oman had announced a day earlier of a temporary shipping transit corridor through the strategic waterway, which it said was coordinated with the IMO to ensure freedom of navigation without imposing transit tolls.
The Omani planned corridor was presented as a temporary humanitarian and commercial measure while discussions continue over the waterway's future administration.
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