Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has now attacked a U.S. ally’s territory, struck multiple oil tankers, and shattered a ceasefire — all within days — while the U.S. military has responded with strikes three times in three weeks.

Story Highlights

• Iran’s Revolutionary Guard hit the Singapore-flagged cargo ship M/V Ever Lovely with a drone on June 25, then struck the oil tanker Kiku — carrying over 2 million barrels of crude — the following day.
• Bahrain confirmed Iranian drones targeted the kingdom directly, calling it a “flagrant threat to the security of citizens and residents.”
• U.S. Central Command struck Iranian missile storage, radar sites, and drone facilities in response — the third such U.S. strike in three weeks.
• President Trump called Iran’s actions a “foolish violation” of the ceasefire agreement signed just days earlier in Islamabad.

Iran Breaks the Ceasefire — Again

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps struck the Singapore-flagged cargo ship M/V Ever Lovely with a one-way attack drone on June 25 as the vessel exited the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani coast. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) called it “unwarranted aggression” that directly violated the ceasefire. President Trump said Iran “shot at least four one-way attack drones at ships” in the Strait and called the move a “foolish violation” of the agreement on Truth Social.

The attack on the Ever Lovely was not a one-off. The next day, Iranian forces hit the Kiku, a Panama-flagged oil tanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude oil near the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM stated plainly: “Iran was given a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement but elected not to.” It was the third time in three weeks that American warplanes had struck Iranian targets in direct response to attacks on commercial shipping.

Bahrain Hit, Gulf Allies Put on Notice

The strikes did not stop at sea. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard also launched drones at Bahrain, a key U.S. ally that hosts American military forces in the Gulf. Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the attack and labeled it a “flagrant threat to the security of citizens and residents.” Egypt and Kuwait swiftly condemned the strikes as well. Iran’s state news agency carried a terse statement from the Guard saying it had targeted locations “of the U.S. terrorist army in the region.”

Iran also forced three foreign oil tankers to turn back in the Strait, citing what it called “unauthorized passage.” Tehran has warned Gulf states not to side with Washington and claims it has the right to control ship traffic through the waterway. Iran’s parliamentary security commission head Ebrahim Azizi put it bluntly: “The Strait of Hormuz is governed by Iran, so: Respect the rules.” The U.S. and its allies reject that claim as a violation of international maritime law.

The Strait of Hormuz: A Global Chokepoint Under Fire

The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most critical oil shipping lane. About 20 percent of global oil supply passes through it. Earlier in 2026, Iranian threats and attacks caused a more than 95 percent drop in tanker traffic — the biggest disruption to global oil supply ever recorded. The shipping lanes run largely through Omani waters and are governed by international maritime law, not Iranian authority.

This pattern is not new. Iran has used the Strait as a pressure valve for decades — seizing ships, firing warning shots, and launching drones whenever tensions with the U.S. rise. In June 2019, Iran shot down a U.S. surveillance drone near the Strait, claiming it had violated Iranian airspace. The U.S. said it was in international airspace. That near-confrontation foreshadowed exactly what is playing out now. The difference today is that a ceasefire exists on paper — and Iran has shredded it in practice. American forces have now helped more than 100 commercial vessels transit the Strait safely in recent weeks, and they are keeping that lane open by force.

What This Means for Americans

Every barrel of oil disrupted in the Strait of Hormuz ripples through gas prices at home. Iran knows this. Attacking tankers and threatening Gulf allies is how Tehran tries to force the world to negotiate on its terms. The Trump administration has responded with military strikes each time, keeping the lane open and making clear that ceasefire violations have consequences. The question now is whether Iran will push further — or whether the cost of continued aggression finally becomes too high.

Sources:

feedpress.me, foxnews.com, reuters.com, boston.com, facebook.com