Iran accuses US of ceasefire violation after new strikes in Hormozgan

Iran accused the United States of breaching their ceasefire Tuesday and warned it was ready to retaliate.

Overnight US strikes targeted Iranian missile sites and mine-laying boats in the Hormozgan region, threatening a deal to end the war.

Brent crude jumped nearly 3% on the news, and China urged both sides to resolve the dispute peacefully.

What did Iran accuse the US of doing?

Iran's foreign ministry said the US had committed a gross ceasefire violation in the Hormozgan region over the past 48 hours. Tehran warned it "will not leave any evil unanswered" and said it was ready to defend the Iranian nation. The ceasefire between the two countries has been in place since April 8.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps said its forces downed a US drone that entered Iranian airspace and fired at an F-35 fighter jet. Iranian state media reported overnight blasts in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, near the Strait of Hormuz. The maritime safety monitor UKMTO separately reported that a blast damaged a tanker on the waterline off Oman, though the crew and vessel were described as safe.

What did the US say about the strikes?

Tim Hawkins, a US Central Command spokesman, said American forces carried out self-defense strikes in southern Iran to protect troops from threats posed by Iranian forces. He said targets included missile launch sites and boats attempting to lay mines. He offered few additional details about the scale or scope of the operation.

Despite the strikes, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a deal remained within reach. Speaking to reporters during a visit to India, he said talks were continuing in Qatar and that progress depended on finalizing specific language in an initial document. "It'll take a few days," he said.

Is a ceasefire deal still possible?

Rubio remained firm on the Strait of Hormuz, the key oil and gas shipping route that Iran is seeking to control. He said the strait was "going to be open one way or the other," calling Iran's actions there unlawful and unsustainable. Iran's negotiators, meanwhile, are seeking the release of frozen assets estimated at $24 billion under a 14-point framework for ending the war.

Tasnim news agency reported that half of those assets would be released once an initial memorandum of understanding is signed. A top Iranian delegation was in Qatar as Tehran said it was finalizing the framework. The war began with US-Israeli airstrikes on Feb. 28.

How did China and other parties respond?

China expressed concern over the renewed strikes and urged all parties to fulfill their ceasefire commitments. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning called for disputes to be resolved through peaceful means and for the early restoration of peace. China is a major energy importer and has a significant interest in stability around the Strait of Hormuz.

Hopes for a broader accord took a further hit when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Monday to crush Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran has demanded that any peace deal cover the fighting in Lebanon as well. On Tuesday, Israel warned Lebanese civilians to evacuate the southern city of Nabatieh ahead of fresh strikes there.

What else is happening inside Iran?

Internet connectivity inside Iran saw a partial restoration Tuesday after nearly three months of blackout, according to the network monitor NetBlocks, which called it the longest nationwide internet shutdown in modern history. Iran's vice president confirmed the first step had been taken toward restoring access. A 22-year-old woman from the western city of Kermanshah said she was able to open international websites from her home connection, though social media still required a VPN.