The United States and Iran exchanged fire on Thursday in the most serious confrontation since their month-long ceasefire began on April 7, raising concerns over renewed instability in the Strait of Hormuz and the broader Middle East region.
Iran’s military accused the United States of violating the ceasefire by targeting two ships entering the Strait of Hormuz and carrying out strikes on Iranian territory, including civilian areas on Qeshm Island and coastal regions near Bandar Khamir and Sirik. Tehran said it responded by attacking US naval vessels east of the Strait of Hormuz and south of the port of Chabahar.
The US military said its forces acted in response to Iranian attacks involving missiles, drones and small boats targeting three US Navy destroyers. According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces struck Iranian missile and drone sites in retaliation.
Iranian military officials claimed their response caused “significant damage” to US assets, although CENTCOM stated that none of its vessels or military infrastructure had been hit.
Despite the exchange, both sides signaled they did not seek further escalation. US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire remained in place and downplayed the confrontation, describing it as “just a love tap” in remarks to an ABC News reporter.
Iranian state media later reported that conditions in Iranian coastal cities and islands near the Strait of Hormuz had returned to normal following several hours of hostilities.
The latest clash occurred as Washington awaited Tehran’s response to a proposed agreement aimed at formally ending the conflict. The proposal reportedly leaves unresolved major disputes, including Iran’s nuclear programme and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway that previously carried nearly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies.
The two countries have exchanged intermittent fire since the ceasefire took effect last month. Earlier this week, the US military said it intercepted Iranian cruise missiles and drones and destroyed six Iranian boats during operations aimed at reopening shipping routes in the strait.
Separately, Washington imposed sanctions on Iraq’s deputy oil minister and three militia leaders over alleged support for Iran.
Meanwhile, Israel announced that it had killed a Hezbollah commander in an airstrike on Beirut a day earlier, marking the first Israeli strike on the Lebanese capital since a ceasefire with Hezbollah was reached last month. Iran has reportedly demanded a halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon as part of broader negotiations with the United States.