WASHINGTON, United States, June 27, (v7n) – US forces struck Iranian missile and drone storage sites and coastal radar positions on Friday after Washington accused Tehran of attacking a cargo ship, jolting a fragile ceasefire as diplomats struggled to contain the Middle East war.

US Central Command said the strikes were a response to "unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces" that "clearly violated the ceasefire," describing the operation as "a powerful response to yesterday's attack on a commercial ship that was transiting the Strait of Hormuz." Iranian state television, citing a reporter in Sirik, said an explosion was heard late Friday at Taherouyeh pier in the southern port city, with an informed military source saying the blast was caused by a projectile impact.

US President Donald Trump had earlier denounced what he described as an Iranian drone strike on the vessel, saying: "Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our ceasefire agreement." The exchange raised fresh questions about efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz open while Washington and Tehran negotiate a final settlement to a war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.

Iran has warned vessels not to enter or leave the Gulf through the Strait without permission, but ships have continued to move, some using a non-approved southern route along the coast of Oman. Around half of the 42 vessels that made the passage on Thursday used that route, according to Kpler tracking platform. The UN maritime agency said an evacuation operation had freed 115 vessels and 2,500 seafarers trapped by the dispute before the attack forced its suspension. Oil prices nevertheless fell sharply, reflecting hopes that traffic through the strategic strait—which normally sees around a fifth of the world's oil and gas exports—would keep recovering despite the latest flare-up.

Separately, Israel and Lebanon hailed an agreement signed with the United States to pave a way towards peace on their front, though Iran-backed Hezbollah warned the deal would thwart plans to resolve the broader conflict. At a signing ceremony in Washington, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the trilateral accord "begins to put in place a framework for lasting peace and security. It's the beginning of the beginning."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the framework as a victory against Iran, asserting: "Iran has been trying to force us to withdraw from southern Lebanon through pressure but, in effect, Israel, Lebanon, and the United States are telling them: this is none of your business. You have no role in Lebanon—not you, not Hezbollah and not any terrorist organization." Netanyahu said the agreement would allow the Lebanese army to return to two "pilot areas" in southern Lebanon, but Israeli forces would remain until Hezbollah is disarmed, and displaced civilians would be prevented from returning.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed the framework as a "first step" toward civilians returning home "under the sovereignty of the Lebanese state," saying: "There will be no more occupation, prisoners, subordination or tutelage." However, Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah warned that the Washington signing sought to undercut the US-Iran ceasefire, which he said envisioned Lebanon being settled through the wider peace process, and cautioned that the Lebanese government would be unable to impose the agreement "unless they go, with American support, to civil war."

The chief of the UN nuclear watchdog, meanwhile, warned that any final US-Iran settlement would need strong safeguards to ensure Tehran does not build a nuclear weapon. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said: "The government of Iran has declared quite clearly that this is not their intention. But of course intentions are not enough. We have to have a very strong verification system in place... as soon as is practicable," adding that the agency had so far "barely initiated" talks with Iran. The interim agreement says Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium—estimated before the war at 440 kilograms (970 pounds) enriched to 60%—should be "downblended" under IAEA supervision.

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