Hegseth Confirms U.S. Military Strikes Iran Over Hormuz
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed Saturday that the U.S. military launched retaliatory strikes against Iran after the country attacked a Cyprus-flagged container ship and declared the Strait of Hormuz closed. According to U.S. Central Command, Iran’s attack on the merchant vessel resulted in a missing civilian crew member and significant damage that left the ship unable to continue its journey. Hegseth posted on X that “Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay,” following Trump’s orders to execute the strikes at 4:15 p.m. ET.
CENTCOM identified Iran’s actions as a violation of a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding both nations agreed to in mid-June, which provided a 60-day window for negotiating a long-term peace accord. Vice President JD Vance had been sent to Switzerland shortly after the agreement to lead negotiations, claiming progress was being made despite describing the Iranians as “extremely confusing.” The latest Iranian assault demonstrates the deal’s collapse and Iran’s continued breach of the fragile ceasefire through multiple violations.
U.S. military operations targeted Iran’s air surveillance radars, missile and drone storage facilities, launch sites, and ground-to-air missile systems, according to a senior American official cited by Axios journalist Barak Ravid. CENTCOM stated the strikes imposed “a heavy cost” to degrade Iran’s capacity to attack civilian vessels and commercial shipping in the strategically vital waterway. This marks the third round of American military action against Iranian targets in recent weeks.
Trump’s rhetoric toward Iran has intensified as diplomatic efforts deteriorated. The president called Iran’s theocratic leaders “scum” last week and warned Friday night that the U.S. has 1,000 missiles “Locked and Loaded” if Iran attempts to kill him. Trump’s escalating language and military strikes reflect his abandonment of negotiation as the administration authorizes direct military confrontation with Iran over control of critical shipping lanes.