US Threatens Renewed Military Strikes Against Iran Following Shipping Attacks in Strait of Hormuz

Vice President J.D. Vance stated on Wednesday that the United States will resume military operations against Iran if it continues its assaults on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing Tehran of breaching a recent agreement to cease such attacks, Anadolu reports.

During remarks in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Vance explained that the U.S. agreed to remove its naval presence from the area after Iran pledged to halt its targeting of vessels in the critical waterway.

“The fundamental agreement we reached was that we would lift our blockade if you stopped shooting at ships, but if you shoot at ships, we’re going to respond, and we’re going to respond more forcefully than ever before,” he declared.

According to Vance, Iran resumed its attacks on shipping approximately one week after the agreement was finalized.

“If they shoot at ships, we’re going to devastate them. That’s the bottom line,” he said, noting that former President Donald Trump “has a wide range of options” available for retaliation.

Vance emphasized that Trump has confirmed the Strait of Hormuz “will remain open,” adding, “Any attempt to shut it down would trigger a response from the American military.”

These comments followed Trump’s statement that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to conclude hostilities “has ended,” and that the U.S. would “probably” conduct additional strikes against Iran later Wednesday night.

The U.S. military’s Central Command reported it carried out strikes on Tuesday night “in direct response to Iranian attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”

Iran, however, accused the United States of violating a framework agreement between the two nations, claiming Washington’s “unilateral” measures and military actions undermine the memorandum.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei wrote on X that the memorandum “from the outset was based not on trust but on a clear mechanism of ‘commitment in return for commitment.'”

He further stated that despite Article Five of the memorandum explicitly granting Iran authority to determine safe passage arrangements for ships through the Strait of Hormuz, “the U.S. has contested the provision and, through its unilateral actions and aggressive attacks against Iran, has effectively violated the accord’s framework.”

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