Trump accuses Iran of orchestrating attack on cargo ship in Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump has condemned Iran for what he described as a “foolish violation” of the ceasefire agreement following a drone strike on a cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The incident occurred off the coast of Oman, where a Singapore-flagged ship, Ever Lovely, was struck by a projectile while en route to Iraq. No crew members were injured, and the ship continued its voyage.

According to Trump’s post on Truth Social, one of the drones hit the upper deck of a large cargo vessel, causing damage but allowing it to proceed. The US president stated that this incident is a “foolish violation” of the ceasefire agreement. Iran has not claimed responsibility for the attack, but two US officials have confirmed that Iran fired on the ship.

The incident occurs at a fragile time, as the US and Iran are negotiating an interim peace deal. They signed a 60-day memorandum of understanding recently, which includes lifting naval blockades and opening the Strait of Hormuz to free passage. The Ever Lovely had chosen a southern route along the Omani coast rather than corridors designated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The attack has halted International Maritime Organization efforts to escort hundreds of stranded vessels out of the Gulf, where over 11,000 seafarers have been trapped for months. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, defended Tehran’s position on Friday, stating that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz cannot be guaranteed under ambiguous arrangements.

The IRGC has denied US assertions about a direct communication line between Tehran and Washington regarding the strait. The incident has drawn a stern warning from Trump, who described it as a “foolish violation” of the ceasefire agreement.

Source: Al Jazeera