Photo: EPA
U.S. President Donald Trump said the ceasefire between the United States and Iran remains in effect despite a new exchange of strikes that marked the most serious escalation since the truce began a month ago.
According to Reuters, both Washington and Tehran insisted they do not seek further escalation even after Thursday’s clashes.
Iranian military officials claimed that U.S. forces attacked two vessels entering the Strait of Hormuz and also carried out strikes on Iranian territory. The U.S. military, meanwhile, said it responded after coming under Iranian attack.
Speaking to ABC News, Trump downplayed the incident, describing it as “just a light slap,” while stressing that the ceasefire was still holding.
Iranian state media later also stated that the situation had “returned to normal.”
The escalation came as Washington was reportedly waiting for Tehran’s response to a U.S. proposal aimed at formally ending the conflict. However, the draft agreement still leaves unresolved the main disputes between the two sides, including Iran’s nuclear program and guarantees for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Joint Armed Forces Command accused the United States of violating the ceasefire by attacking an Iranian oil tanker and another vessel, as well as launching airstrikes on civilian areas around Qeshm Island and the coastal areas of Bandar Khamir and Sirik.
In response, Iran said it targeted American warships east of the Strait of Hormuz and south of the port of Chabahar.
A representative of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters claimed the attacks caused “significant damage,” although United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said no American assets were hit.
According to CENTCOM, Iran used missiles, drones, and small boats in attacks against three U.S. destroyers. American forces later struck Iranian missile and drone launch positions as well as other military targets.
“CENTCOM does not seek escalation but remains prepared to defend U.S. forces,” the command said in a statement.
Later, Iranian broadcaster Press TV reported that after several hours of exchanges, “the situation on Iranian islands and in coastal cities along the Strait of Hormuz has returned to normal.”
This was not the first military exchange since the ceasefire began on April 7. Earlier this week, the United States said it destroyed six Iranian boats and intercepted missiles and drones during an Iranian attempt to disrupt a U.S. operation aimed at restoring shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Separately, Washington on Thursday imposed sanctions on Iraq’s deputy oil minister and three militia leaders accused by the U.S. of supporting Iran.
At the same time, Israel announced that it had killed a Hezbollah commander in an airstrike on Beirut — the first Israeli strike on the Lebanese capital since last month’s ceasefire.
Ending Israeli attacks on Lebanon remains one of Iran’s key demands in negotiations with the United States.
