U.S. launches airstrikes, accuses Iran of ceasefire violation

Iran reasserted its control over the Strait of Hormuz on Friday and warned neighboring countries against siding with the United States in moves that highlighted the fragility of a preliminary agreement to end the war.

Iranian state TV said June 26 that three foreign tankers attempting what it called an "unauthorized passage" of the strait were turned back after a warning from its military. The TV report gave no further details.

President Donald Trump wrote on social media that Iran shot at least four attack drones and hit a cargo ship, but the ship was able to proceed despite the damage. He said the U.S. knocked down the other three drones.

"Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our ceasefire agreement," Trump wrote.

Iran said it was responding to what it called an "interventionist, irresponsible and provocative" joint statement by the United States and six countries that rejected Iran's insistence that it could charge tolls on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

"Safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz cannot be guaranteed under ambiguous arrangements, parallel routes or decision-making that does not take Iran's role as a coastal state into account," Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on X.

Asked about the matter, a U.S. official told Reuters: "We are aware of these reports and looking into them. President Trump has been clear that Iran cannot subvert the free flow of traffic in the Strait."

Marco Rubio announces framework for Israel-Lebanon deal

The dispute unfolded just before U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the framework of a new peace deal between Israel and Lebanon, which has long grappled with militants of the Iran-backed Hezbollah, especially since the U.S. attacked Iran in March.

"Israel deserves to live in peace and security," Rubio said. "The people of northern Israel, in particular, who have been targeted repeatedly by terrorist attacks launched from the territory of Lebanon but not by the Lebanese people, not by the Lebanese government, but by an outside actor who has sought to use that territory to target innocent civilians."

Describing the deal as the "beginning of the beginning," Rubio said Lebanon deserves to have "a prosperous and peaceful country" that "in many ways was the envy of the region and of the world."

Oil prices dropped by more than 3% on June 26, on course for steep weekly losses despite the conflicting interpretations of last week's interim deal between Iran and the U.S. and a slowdown in traffic through the strait, where a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies typically passes.

Trump told attendees of a conservative Christian conference later in the day that Iran still has some capability, but not much. "They're not winning or anything. But they have some capability," he said, bringing up the drones.

Contributing: White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers, Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: U.S. launches airstrikes, accuses Iran of ceasefire violation

Reporting by Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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This story was originally published June 26, 2026 at 5:29 PM.