Iran says US military attacked civilian boats in Strait of Hormuz amid fears of renewed conflict

Iran has accused the United States military of killing five civilians during operations in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions around the strategic waterway.

Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported that US forces attacked two small passenger boats travelling from Oman to Iran on Monday.

According to an unnamed Iranian military commander quoted by the broadcaster, the strikes destroyed the vessels and killed five civilians.

THe allegation contradicts claims from US Admiral Brad Cooper, who said US Central Command forces had targeted and sunk several vessels belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps during an operation known as Project Freedom .

US President Donald Trump later said seven Iranian boats had been involved.

Iran said no IRGC vessels were hit and accused the US of violating a fragile ceasefire reached on April 8.

“The new equation of the Strait of Hormuz is in the process of being solidified. The security of shipping and energy transit has been jeopardized by the United States and its allies through the violation of the ceasefire and the imposition of a blockade; of course, their evil will diminish,” Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X.