Trump Accuses Iran of Drone Attack on Cargo Ship in Strait of Hormuz
Allegations of Drone Attack by Iran
On Friday, President Donald Trump of the United States accused Iran of executing a drone strike on a cargo vessel navigating through the Strait of Hormuz, labeling it a "foolish violation" of a ceasefire agreement. In his statement, Trump claimed that at least four one-way attack drones were deployed, with one successfully hitting the upper deck of a "large and very expensive" cargo ship, causing damage but allowing the vessel to continue its journey. He mentioned that three additional drones were intercepted during the incident.
Trump shared on his social media platform, Truth Social, that, "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." However, the specifics of the incident Trump referenced remain unclear, including the timing of the alleged attack.
On Thursday, a vessel was reportedly attacked in waters near Oman, an act for which the US has attributed blame to Iran. In a related development, Taiwanese shipping company Evergreen Marine reported that one of its container ships was struck by an "unidentified object" in the Strait of Hormuz, although the crew, vessel, and cargo were unharmed.
In a separate statement, Iran reiterated its authority over shipping in the crucial Strait of Hormuz, cautioning Gulf nations against aligning with the US. Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's deputy foreign minister, emphasized on X that safe passage through the Strait cannot be assured for vessels operating under "ambiguous arrangements, parallel routes, or decision-making outside of Iran’s considerations as the coastal state." He insisted that any credible framework must involve coordination with Iran and adhere to the provisions of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, warning that failure to do so could lead to the suspension of designated parallel routes.
His comments were a direct response to a joint statement from the US and six Gulf states, part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which dismissed Iran's claim to impose tolls on vessels passing through the strait and advocated for "free, unconditional, and unrestricted navigation." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that any threats or blockages by Iran against ships in the strait would lead to significant issues, concluding his tour of the Gulf region.