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President Trump on Friday said Iran carried out an attack on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a “foolish violation” of a ceasefire, signed last week, that was meant to ensure safe passage through the waterway and kick off negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump did not address ending negotiations with Iran.
Trump said the U.S. shot down three out of four one-way attack drones that were launched by the Islamic Republic. He said one hit the upper deck of a cargo-carrying ship. The British military on Thursday said a vessel was hit by a projectile off the coast of Oman, following the passage of several tankers that used a route backed by the United Nations.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi issued a statement on Friday emphasizing Iran’s control of the strait, saying safety cannot be guaranteed for ships that transit the waterway without consultation with Tehran.
“Safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with ambiguous arrangements, parallel routes, or decision-making outside of Iran’s considerations as the coastal state, cannot be guaranteed,” he posted on the social platform X.
“Any credible framework must be based on coordination with Iran and the provisions of paragraph five of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. Otherwise, the outcome will be the suspension of the designated parallel route.”
The 14-point memorandum of understanding (MOU), signed by Trump and Iran’s president on June 17 and put into effect the next day, established the ceasefire and opened up passage through the strait. The fifth paragraph said Iran will use its “best efforts” to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days. A senior administration official told reporters that the expectation was for Iran to “assert their rights as aggressively as they can” but suggested tolling would be the most pressing issue.
The MOU also leaves open the strait’s future, giving Iran the right to hold discussions with Oman and other Persian Gulf littoral states over “the future administration and maritime services.”
The U.S. issued a joint statement on Thursday with the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council emphasizing that “free, unconditional, and unrestricted navigation” through the strait is guaranteed under international law.
“The Ministers rejected any tolls, fees, or attempts to assert control over the strait,” the statement read. The council includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
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Administration Live updates: Trump says Iran broke ceasefire by The Hill Staff 8 minutes ago Administration / 8 minutes ago 
