Arabic version: ترامب يدين إيران لهجوم على سفينة شحن في هرمز
U.S. President Donald Trump has condemned what he called Iran’s “foolish violation” of the ceasefire agreement after a drone struck a cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The incident occurred as the British military reported that a vessel was hit by a projectile off Oman on Thursday.
Trump did not identify the ship in his post on Truth Social, but it has been identified as the Singapore-flagged Ever Lovely, owned by Taiwan-based Evergreen Marine. The vessel had been stranded in the Gulf for more than 100 days after loading cargo in Iraq. Fortunately, no crew members were injured, and the ship was able to continue its voyage. U.S. forces intercepted three other drones that were part of the same coordinated attack.
“One of the drones solidly hit the upper deck of a large and very expensive cargo-carrying ship. Damage was done, but the ship was able to proceed on its way,” Trump stated. He emphasized that this incident represents a clear breach of the ceasefire agreement.
While Iran has not claimed responsibility for the attack, two U.S. officials indicated that Iran fired on the ship. This incident occurs during delicate negotiations between the U.S. and Iran aimed at reaching an interim peace deal. Both countries have recently signed a 60-day memorandum of understanding to lift naval blockades and allow free passage in the Strait of Hormuz while working towards a longer-term agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief.
The Ever Lovely had opted for a route along the Omani coast instead of those designated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which had issued a directive prior to the attack. The strike disrupted efforts by the International Maritime Organization to escort hundreds of stranded vessels from the Gulf, where more than 11,000 seafarers have been trapped for months. Iran has expressed dissatisfaction with statements from the U.S. and Gulf states, rejecting its claims regarding tolls on vessels transiting the strait. The IRGC also denied U.S. claims of established communication lines with Washington regarding the strait, asserting that it is Iranian territory.
According to Al Jazeera, Trump’s response to the attack was notably less aggressive than usual, signaling a cautious approach amidst ongoing tensions.
