US President Donald Trump says a ceasefire between the United States and Iran remains in place despite a fresh exchange of fire involving US naval destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US accused Iran of launching missiles, drones and small boats at three American warships in what it described as an âunprovoked attack,â while Iran alleged the US targeted an Iranian oil tanker and another vessel approaching the strategic waterway.
Trump, reacting on Truth Social, said Iran âtrifled with us today.â
Iranâs top military command claimed US âaerial attacksâ struck coastal areas including Bandar Khamir, Sirik and Qeshm Island. It said Iranian forces responded by attacking US military vessels and inflicting âsignificant damage,â accusing Washington of a âviolation of the ceasefire.â
US Central Command said Iranian forces launched âmultiple missiles, drones and small boatsâ at US Navy guided-missile destroyers transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Centcom said it had âeliminated inbound threats and targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking US forces, including missile and drone launch sites; command and control locations; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance nodes.â
âCentcom does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces,â the statement said.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump said the US had destroyed multiple small boats that âdropped ever so beautifully down to the Ocean, very much like a butterfly dropping to its grave!â
âGreat damageâ was âdone to the Iranian attackersâ, he added.
The US president also warned Iran over ongoing peace negotiations.
âJust 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!â Trump wrote.
An Israeli source told the BBC there was âno Israeli involvementâ in the latest attacks.
The latest tensions come a day after Iranâs foreign ministry said it was considering a US proposal aimed at ending the war.
US news outlet Axios reported that the White House believed it was close to securing a 14-point memorandum of understanding with Iran that could create a framework for detailed nuclear negotiations.
An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said Tehran was reviewing the proposal and would communicate its response through Pakistani mediators.
Pakistanâs foreign minister said his country was âendeavouring to convert this ceasefire into a permanent end to this warâ.
However, Iranian parliament member Ebrahim Rezaei dismissed the proposed agreement as a âwish listâ.
Writing on X, Rezaei said Iran âhas its finger on the triggerâ, warning the country would âdeliver a harsh and regret-inducing responseâ if the US did not âsurrender and grant necessary conditionsâ.
Both Washington and Tehran have threatened further military action if negotiations fail.
In a Truth Social post, Trump warned that if Iran did not agree to a deal, âthe bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was beforeâ.
Trump has repeatedly stated that Iran had agreed never to pursue a nuclear weapon, although Tehran has not confirmed the claim.
Faridah Abdulkadiri