Iran played Egypt in Seattle on the same day Donald Trump’s forces launched strikes in Iran in response to a drone strike on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

Egypt advanced past the group stage at the World Cup for the first time while Iran will have to wait one day to find out its fate after the two teams played to a 1-1 draw.

Shipping analysts said the drone strike cast a shadow over what had been a growing stream of trapped vessels finally leaving the Gulf and an increasing flow of tankers carrying crude oil.

“A week of widening commercial confidence in the Strait of Hormuz has hit its first significant test,” said marine data company Windward on X. It said that while the strait remains operationally open with 43 transits recorded after the incident, “the pace of normalization has slowed.”

On Wednesday, before Thursday’s drone strike, 78 vessels transited the strait, the highest since the war began, although below the pre-war average of 130 or more per day.

At least two tankers reversed course while attempting to transit the strait on the U.N.-backed route near Oman after Iran insisted vessels use only the Teheran-approved routes, according to marine data and analytic firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence.

More than two dozen ships were still transiting the strait’s southern route after the attack, Lloyd’s said Friday.

Iran said it struck targets linked to U.S. forces in response to U.S. airstrikes on its southern coast, which it said violated the U.N. Charter and the war-ending memorandum between the two countries, according to a statement by its foreign ministry.

Iran did not identify the ‌targets or ​say ‌where ⁠they were located.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran shot at least four one way attack drones at ships transversing the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Friday. “One of the drones solidly hit the upper deck of a large and very expensive cargo carrying ship. Damage was done, but the ship was able to proceed on its way. We knocked down three other drones. Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement.”

Trump did not detail what action might be taken in response to the attack.

The UN temporarily paused its operation to evacuate hundreds of stranded ships and thousands of seafarers from the Gulf after the Taiwanese ship was damaged in the attack close to the Omani side of the waterway.

Centcom, the American military command in the Middle East, confirmed its aircraft targeted missile and drone storage facilities as well as coastal radar sites in Iran.

It released a grainy black-and-white video, labelled “unclassified”, depicting an explosion. A US official later indicated that the operation had concluded.

Centcom described the strikes as “a powerful response to yesterday’s attack on a commercial ship that was transiting the Strait of Hormuz”, adding that the American military would continue to provide “safe passage coordination and support” to commercial vessels in the waterway.

Iran reported that a projectile struck the area around a pier in Sirik, southern Iran, and claimed its naval forces retaliated by hitting US military targets in the region.

The US military carried out strikes on Iranian missile and drone storage sites in retaliation for an Iranian attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on X, vice president JD Vance, said: “Iran signed a ceasefire agreement. We have honoured it. If they have disagreements about how the MOU is being applied, they can pick up the phone. But violence will be met with violence.”

Centcom, the American military command in the Middle East, confirmed its aircraft targeted missile and drone storage facilities as well as coastal radar sites in Iran. It released a grainy black-and-white video, labelled “unclassified”, depicting an explosion. A US official later indicated that the operation had concluded.

For an Iran squad whose simple presence at these World Cup Finals was a precariously run thing for so many months, the continuation of their unprecedented journey in North America is hanging, like so many others, by an excruciating 24-hour thread. But only after the most enthralling – and agonising – seven minutes of stoppage time you will ever see.

For West Ham in May, see Iran in June: glorious goalscoring moments at the death taken away in the cruellest of ways. It seemed time stood still in the Egypt penalty area as Iran defender Shojae Khalilzadeh swept the ball home before sliding on his knees towards his euphoric teammates pitchside, in what was the moment of the 2026 World Cup so far. And yet, heartbreakingly, the Iran defender did not cater for the two most unpopular words in football. “After review,” said Polish referee Szymon Marciniak. VAR had its say. We know what comes next.

Pakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar spoke by phone last night with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi as the US and Iran traded military strikes.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry said that Dar reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to playing a constructive role in efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region and beyond.

Egypt advanced past the group stage at the World Cup for the first time while Iran, which had a potential late winning goal called back due to an offside, will have to wait one day to find out its fate after the two teams played to a 1-1 draw.

Iran could still advance to the knockout round for the first time in the expanded 48-team pool at this year’s tournament.

But, they no longer control their own destiny after Friday’s game.

Iran played Egypt in Seattle while Donald Trump’s forces bombed Iran in response to an Iranian drone strike on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz.