17 July,2026 10:15 AM IST | Washington | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/AFP
The White House has accused Iran of violating a memorandum of understanding with the United States by attacking commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, saying US President Donald Trump authorised renewed military strikes after Tehran allegedly failed to honour its commitments despite continuing to express interest in negotiations.
Speaking during the White House daily briefing on Thursday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Iran breached a key provision of the agreement by firing on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, prompting the US administration to launch military action.
"I've spoken with the President about this as recently as an hour ago. Iran very much continues to talk to the United States of America and express that they want to make a deal with us, because they are suffering devastating blows on behalf of our United States military," Leavitt added.
Leavitt said the recent US military strikes were carried out in response to what the administration described as Iran's violation of the memorandum of understanding reached between the two countries.
"The reason for the recent strikes over the course of the last several days is because Iran violated the memorandum of understanding that we struck with them," she added.
"Specifically in the memorandum of understanding that they signed, they were not to fire on commercial vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz."
According to Leavitt, the Trump administration viewed the attacks on international shipping as a serious breach of the agreement and decided to respond with military action.
Leavitt said President Trump was determined to ensure that attacks on commercial shipping in one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes would not continue without consequences.
"President Trump is not going to sit by and allow these active acts of terrorism to take place in the strait without ensuring Iran pays consequences for that," she said.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a strategically important shipping corridor through which a significant share of the world's oil and gas supplies passes, making security in the region a key international concern.
Despite the renewed military operations, Leavitt said diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran had not ended and that communication remained open.
"The President is always open and willing to diplomacy. He is the peace through strength President," Leavitt said, adding that after Operation Epic Fury, "we did move forward into a diplomatic phase," but Iran subsequently violated the agreement.
"They (Iran) have expressed they still want to make a deal to the President. We're (US is) talking to them."
The White House maintained that while military measures had resumed, the administration remained willing to pursue a diplomatic solution if Iran complied with its commitments.
Leavitt also announced that the United States had reimposed a naval blockade targeting vessels travelling to and from Iranian ports.
"We know that there is a blockade of ships directed by the President (Trump) for ships entering and departing Iranian ports only. This has been fully implemented and is in full force," she said.
She said the operation is being enforced by more than 10,000 American sailors, Marines and airmen, supported by two aircraft carriers, over 20 warships and dozens of military aircraft.
"During the first 24 hours of the blockade, US CENTCOM has redirected two compliant commercial vessels and disabled one non-compliant vessel," she said, adding that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to ships that are not engaged in trade with Iranian ports.
Responding to questions about apparent differences in public comments made by President Trump and Vice-President JD Vance regarding diplomacy with Iran, Leavitt rejected suggestions of any disagreement within the administration.
"I can tell you the President, Vice-President, are on the exact same page," she said, adding that Operation Epic Fury had left Iran's leadership fragmented and weakened.
The latest developments are expected to further heighten tensions between Washington and Tehran, with renewed military operations, maritime security measures and ongoing diplomatic contacts unfolding simultaneously.
(With inputs from IANS)
