Iran Accuses US of Breaching Quiet Pact, Warns of Retaliation.

The U.S. military launched strikes against Iranian air defense, coastal surveillance, and missile facilities after three commercial vessels were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, with explosions reported in Bandar Abbas, Bandar Sirik, and Kish Island. Iran accused the United States of violating a tacit understanding between the two sides and warned that it would take retaliatory action.

Tensions between Iran and the United States date back a long time, driven by a long-standing opposition of interests and influence in the Middle East. The U.S. military is one of the most powerful military forces in the world, comprising six branches: the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard, each with its specific role and operational domain. The origins of the U.S. military trace back to the American Revolutionary War, with the Army and Navy being the earliest established branches, followed later by the creation of the Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard.

Over the past decades, the U.S. military has played a major role in conflicts worldwide, including World War I, World War II, the Cold War, and the War on Terror. The National Security Act of 1947 reorganized the U.S. military system, establishing the Department of Defense, the Air Force, and the National Security Council. A 1949 amendment subsequently consolidated the departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force under the Department of Defense, formally establishing a unified defense system. The presence and activities of the U.S. military in the Middle East have long been a focus of concern for Iran, which views the U.S. military presence as a threat to its national security.

In recent years, relations between Iran and the United States have grown increasingly tense due to the Iranian nuclear issue and the situation in the Middle East. Iran's nuclear program has consistently been a focus of international attention, with the United States and other Western countries viewing it as a threat to regional security. At the same time, the situation in the Middle East is constantly evolving, with conflicts such as the Syrian civil war, the situation in Iraq, and the civil war in Yemen exacerbating regional tensions. The activities and presence of the U.S. military in these regions have caused discontent and a sense of threat within Iran.

Iran's warning of retaliation against the United States is a diplomatic strategy employed by the Iranian government aimed at countering and deterring U.S. military actions. Potential Iranian retaliatory measures could include attacks on U.S. military bases and facilities in the Middle East, or assaults on American commercial vessels and oil tankers. This escalation of the situation will have severe consequences for the security and stability of the Middle East.

For Taiwan, this incident poses certain risks to the security of its semiconductor and energy supply chains. Taiwan is a key participant in the global semiconductor industry, whose supply chain spans the globe, including the Middle East. At the same time, Taiwan relies heavily on imported energy, particularly oil and natural gas, with the Middle East serving as a vital global production region for both. Should the situation in the Middle East continue to deteriorate, it would impact global energy supplies, which in turn would affect Taiwan's energy security and the normal operation of its semiconductor industry. Consequently, Taiwan needs to closely monitor developments in the Middle East and prepare adequate risk assessments and contingency measures to ensure the security and stability of its semiconductor and energy supply chains.