President Donald Trump on Friday sharply criticized Iran after an Iranian attack drone struck a commercial cargo vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz, calling the incident a "foolish violation" of the ceasefire agreement that ended months of conflict between Washington and Tehran.
"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," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"Damage was done, but the Ship was able to proceed on its way," he continued. "We knocked down three other Drones. Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement."
Trump did not indicate whether the United States would respond militarily or whether the incident would derail the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding signed earlier this week.
His comments suggested the administration still hopes to preserve the agreement despite what he characterized as a serious breach.
The drone attack marked the first reported military incident in the Strait of Hormuz since the United States and Iran signed the MOU, halting active hostilities and launching a 60-day negotiating process aimed at reaching a broader agreement on Iran's nuclear program and regional security.
A central provision of the agreement required the immediate reopening of the strategic waterway.
The memorandum states: "Immediately upon the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, the United States [shall] lift the naval blockade and prevent any interference or obstruction against maritime navigation, while the Islamic Republic of Iran shall guarantee the safe transit of all commercial and civilian vessels through the Strait of Hormuz for a period of sixty (60) days pending negotiations toward a final agreement."
Despite that commitment, Iranian officials have continued to assert that Tehran maintains operational control over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Iran's deputy foreign minister said Friday that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz by "parallel routes" could not be guaranteed and maintained that commercial shipping must continue using designated transit corridors approved by Iranian authorities.
Tehran has also repeatedly argued that foreign military deployments in the Persian Gulf contribute to regional instability.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most strategically important maritime chokepoints, with roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption passing through the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.
It was unclear Friday whether the Strait of Hormuz remained fully open. On Thursday, a U.N. agency suspended the evacuation of ships through the strait, citing Iranian attacks.
Markets have so far taken the latest incident in stride. Oil prices have fallen this week following the ceasefire agreement, reflecting investor optimism that major disruptions to Gulf energy exports have been avoided.
However, energy analysts caution that Friday's drone strike serves as a reminder that the situation remains highly fragile.
Any sustained attacks on commercial shipping — or renewed uncertainty over freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz — could quickly reverse the recent decline in oil prices and reignite fears of supply disruptions in global energy markets.
The shipping attack also comes as U.S.-mediated diplomatic efforts continue elsewhere in the region, including negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in Washington. Meanwhile, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem warned Friday that Israel's objectives in Lebanon extend beyond missile threats and amount to an effort "to swallow it up and occupy it."