Tanker struck in Hormuz as Iran, US trade attacks in worst escalation since peace deal

A tanker was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations center, which said the vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile. The tanker’s bridge was damaged, but all crew members were reported safe. No group immediately claimed responsibility.

The incident unfolded amid sharply escalating hostilities between Iran and the United States. The US and Iran have each launched strikes in what multiple outlets described as the worst escalation since an interim peace deal was signed. Iran accused the US of a blatant violation of the memorandum of understanding, saying the attacks targeted Iranian coastal surveillance facilities. Iran stated it responded to US airstrikes on Iran’s southern coast and said it struck targets linked to US forces.

The United States said its strikes targeted Iranian missile and drone storage sites as well as coastal radar locations. The US framed the action as retaliation for an Iranian attack on a cargo ship transiting the strategic waterway. In separate statements and comments, US officials and President Donald Trump alleged that Iran launched drones that hit the commercial vessel, while asserting that the US intercepted other drones.

In parallel, additional reports indicated the wider regional situation remained tense, with ongoing military activity and diplomatic moves elsewhere in the Middle East occurring alongside the Hormuz developments—raising concerns that the fragile truce could further unravel as attacks continue.