The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran came under renewed strain on Sunday after Tehran accused Washington of violating the truce and warned that the US "cannot be trusted", following fresh American strikes on Iranian military targets.
The latest escalation follows US airstrikes on Iranian missile and drone storage facilities and coastal radar sites, which Washington said were carried out in response to an alleged Iranian drone attack on a commercial cargo ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route. President Donald Trump confirmed the strikes and warned that the US would "militarily complete the job" if Iran continued its attacks.
Iran strongly condemned the strikes, describing them as a breach of the ceasefire agreement and accusing the US of negotiating in bad faith. Iranian officials warned that the country would retaliate against any further military action, raising fears of another cycle of escalation in the Middle East.
The renewed hostilities come just weeks after both sides had agreed to a ceasefire aimed at reducing months of conflict. However, repeated accusations of violations from both Washington and Tehran have left the agreement hanging by a thread. The Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly a fifth of the world's oil supply passes, remains at the centre of the confrontation, with shipping security emerging as a major concern.
Despite the military exchanges, global oil prices have eased as commercial tankers continue to transit the Strait of Hormuz, easing fears of a prolonged disruption to energy supplies. Analysts, however, caution that any further escalation could once again rattle global markets and threaten regional stability.
