[Vance Warns Iran: If You Have Issues, Call Us—Otherwise, Violence Will Meet Violence]
A new round of conflict between the U.S. and Iran has reignited, with the trigger once again linked to navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. On June 25, Iran launched drones that attacked a cargo ship. Subsequently, Trump ordered U.S. military forces to launch attacks against Iran. According to Central Command, they targeted Iranian missile and drone storage facilities, as well as coastal radar installations. Iran stated in response that it had retaliated against the U.S. military actions.
Shortly after the U.S. bombing of Iran, Vance, who is responsible for negotiations with Iran, posted on social media: "Since a ceasefire agreement was signed, it must be honored. If Iran has objections to the memorandum, we can discuss them over the phone. But if violence occurs, the U.S. will respond with violence."
In reality, following this latest incident, both sides have accused each other of violating the agreement. From Iran’s perspective, the U.S. attack constitutes a breach of the pact. From the U.S. standpoint, the memorandum clearly states “open access to the Strait of Hormuz,” yet Iran attacked a vessel—this is an open violation of the agreement and must be met with a response.
This recent attack on a cargo ship by Iran is still tied to control over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has explicitly demanded that ships in the Persian Gulf follow its instructions and transit through maritime routes designated by Iran, thereby laying the groundwork for future toll collection. However, Oman has established a new shipping lane on its own side of territorial waters. As a result, cargo vessels naturally began choosing the Omani route—no one wants to be threatened by Iran. Under these circumstances, Iran directly resorted to attacking cargo ships in an attempt to create a deterrent effect. This incident underscores that as long as the issue surrounding the Strait of Hormuz remains unresolved, U.S.-Iran conflict could erupt at any moment.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1869146051858441/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.