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A FRAGILE ceasefire between Iran and the United States has come under renewed strain after Tehran accused Washington of breaching the truce through military strikes near the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, raising fears that efforts to halt the regional conflict could unravel.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said American strikes in the southern province of Hormozgan constituted a “gross violation” of the ceasefire, which has held tenuously for nearly seven weeks following intense hostilities involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
Iranian media reported explosions in the province early Tuesday, while Washington defended the operation as a defensive action targeting missile installations and vessels allegedly attempting to deploy naval mines in Gulf waters.
The latest escalation came as Israel dramatically intensified military operations in Lebanon, launching more than 120 air strikes in a single day, according to Lebanese security sources. The bombardment marked one of the heaviest waves of attacks in recent weeks and further complicated ongoing negotiations aimed at ending regional hostilities.
Reuters reported on Wednesday that Tehran has repeatedly demanded an end to Israeli operations in Lebanon as part of any broader diplomatic settlement.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations to secure a more durable agreement could still take several days despite earlier signs of progress between the opposing sides.
According to Rubio, the initial framework under discussion would halt hostilities and reopen shipping through the Strait of Hormuz while granting negotiators a 60-day period to tackle more contentious issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme.
Iranian media reported that Tehran’s negotiators were also pressing for the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets as part of the talks.
The renewed military activity has once again rattled global energy markets and heightened concerns over the stability of one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.
The Strait of Hormuz normally carries roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, but maritime traffic through the waterway has fallen sharply since the conflict erupted following coordinated United States and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.
Global benchmark Brent crude prices rose by approximately 3.5 per cent on Tuesday, climbing to around US$100 a barrel amid fears of prolonged disruption to global energy supplies.
The conflict has already fuelled broader inflationary pressures worldwide, increasing the cost of fuel, fertiliser and food supplies.
Speaking to reporters while travelling in India, Rubio stressed that international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz must resume regardless of ongoing tensions.
“The Strait of Hormuz had to be open one way or the other,” he said.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that it reserved the right to retaliate against the latest strikes.
The Guards claimed Iranian air defence systems had shot down one American drone and opened fire on another drone as well as a fighter aircraft allegedly entering Iranian airspace over the Gulf.
Amid mounting tensions, Iran’s Supreme Leader reportedly warned that “the clock cannot be turned back”, underscoring the increasingly fragile nature of diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider regional war. - May 27, 2026
