U.S. President Donald Trump has affirmed that a ceasefire with Iran remains in effect, even after a recent confrontation involving Iranian and U.S. naval destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz, an incident for which both nations assigned blame to the other.
The U.S. alleged that Iran launched missiles, drones, and small boats targeting three American warships, characterizing it as an “unprovoked attack.” President Trump commented that Iran had “trifled with us today.”
Conversely, Iran’s top military command claimed the U.S. had targeted an Iranian oil tanker and another vessel near the Strait of Hormuz, alongside conducting “aerial attacks” on several coastal regions.
This escalation occurred just a day after Iran’s foreign ministry indicated it was reviewing a U.S. proposal aimed at ending the conflict.
Further highlighting the fragility of the ceasefire, early Friday saw the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Defence report its air defenses were “actively engaging” with a missile and drone attack from Iran.
The ministry subsequently confirmed that two ballistic missiles and three UAVs were launched from Iran, leading to three “moderate injuries.”
Iranian state media initially reported “explosions in the Strait of Hormuz” on Friday, characterizing them as an “exchange of fire” with the “enemy.” Concurrently, local media in Tehran reported hearing explosions.
Shortly thereafter, a statement from Iran’s top military command asserted that U.S. “aerial attacks” had struck the coasts of Bandar Khamir, Sirik, and Qeshm Island.
Iran stated it responded immediately by attacking U.S. military vessels, inflicting “significant damage,” and accused the U.S. of a “violation of the ceasefire.”
U.S. Central Command (Centcom) labeled the Iranian attacks as “unprovoked,” detailing that Iranian forces launched “multiple missiles, drones, and small boats” as U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers navigated the strait.
Centcom reported that it had “eliminated inbound threats and targeted Iranian military facilities” responsible for attacking U.S. forces, specifically mentioning missile and drone launch sites, command and control locations, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance nodes.
“Centcom does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces,” the statement concluded.
On Truth Social, Trump claimed the U.S. had destroyed multiple small boats, missiles, and drones, adding that “great damage” was inflicted upon the Iranian attackers.
The U.S. President also reiterated a warning regarding the peace deal: “Just like we knocked them out again today, we’ll knock them out a lot harder, and a lot more violently, in the future, if they don’t get their Deal signed, FAST!”
In a statement on X, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated: “Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the U.S. opts for a reckless military adventure.”
He further added: “Whatever the causes, the outcome is the same: Iranians never bow to pressure and diplomacy is always the victim.”
An Israeli source informed the BBC that there was “no Israeli involvement” in the recent attacks.
This rise in tensions contradicts the U.S. President’s recent assertions that the conflict in Iran would be “over quickly.”
U.S. news outlet Axios had reported that the White House believed it was nearing a 14-point memorandum of understanding with Iran, potentially establishing a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations.
On Wednesday, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman confirmed that the latest U.S. proposal was under consideration, and Tehran would share its perspectives with Pakistani mediators.
Pakistan’s foreign minister stated his country was “endeavouring to convert this ceasefire into a permanent end to this war.”
However, a senior member of Iran’s parliament dismissed the 14-point memorandum of understanding as a “wish list.”
Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian parliament’s national security and foreign policy commission, wrote on X that Iran “has its finger on the trigger,” warning of a “harsh and regret-inducing response” if the U.S. did not “surrender and grant necessary conditions.”
Both the U.S. and Iran have threatened an escalation in violence if their respective conditions for a peace deal are not met.
In a Truth Social post on May 6, Trump wrote that if Iran did not agree to a deal, “the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.”
Trump had previously stated that Operation Epic Fury—the initial U.S.-Israeli offensive in Iran—would conclude “assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to.” Prior to this, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had declared the operation over, having achieved its objectives.
Trump also claimed, not for the first time, that Iran had agreed to never possess a nuclear weapon “among other things”—a claim not confirmed by Tehran. Iran’s nuclear program remains one of the key sticking points between the two sides.
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