Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated once again after both countries launched fresh military strikes and accused each other of violating a recently agreed ceasefire.

The latest exchange began after a Panama-flagged commercial tanker was reportedly struck by a drone in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. The US military said the attack was carried out by Iranian forces, prompting a direct military response.

According to the US Central Command (Centcom), American forces targeted multiple military sites across Iran in retaliation for what it described as continued aggression against international commercial shipping. The strikes reportedly focused on military equipment, communication systems, air defense positions, and drone storage facilities.

Centcom stated that Iran had been given the opportunity to uphold the ceasefire agreement but instead launched a one-way attack drone that struck the tanker, identified as the MT Kiku.

Iran strongly rejected the US account of events. In a statement carried by state media, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed the United States attacked five Iranian coastal positions under the pretext of responding to naval actions involving the commercial vessel.

The IRGC announced that it had retaliated by launching ballistic missiles and drones targeting US military infrastructure in Kuwait and Bahrain. Iranian officials claimed the strikes hit eight strategic facilities, including the Ali al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Port Salman, Bahrain.

Both Washington and Tehran have accused each other of breaching the ceasefire, further raising concerns that the fragile agreement may collapse completely.

The renewed exchange of strikes has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict, particularly as the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important maritime routes for global energy supplies. International observers continue to monitor the situation closely, urging both sides to exercise restraint and return to diplomatic negotiations.