US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran remains in force despite the exchange of strikes in the Strait of Hormuz.
In an interview with ABC News, Trump called the strikes on Iranian targets “light slaps” and stressed that the truce has not been canceled.
He later wrote on his social network Truth Social that three American destroyers “successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz – under fire” and will now join the naval blockade. “A normal country would allow the destroyers to pass, but Iran is not a normal country. It is run by madmen who, if they had the ability to use nuclear weapons, would certainly do so. They will never have that opportunity,” Trump said.
The American president warned that the US would “attack them much harder and much more harshly” if Tehran does not sign the agreement.
Trump later reiterated that Washington was negotiating with Iran and the ceasefire was “still in effect.” According to him, Pakistan has asked the US to suspend Operation Project Freedom during the negotiations.
On the night of Friday, May 8, residents of the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas and the island of Qeshm in the Strait of Hormuz reported explosions. According to two senior Iranian sources cited by the New York Times, the strikes targeted three sites: the Bahman pier on Qeshm, a production facility on the island and the air base in Bandar Abbas. Iran blamed the United Arab Emirates, suggesting the strikes were in retaliation for an Iranian attack on the port of Fujairah. Mehr reported that Iranian air defense forces shot down two aircraft in the skies over Bandar Abbas and Qeshm.
Tasnim quoted sources pointing to the UAE’s “hostile actions as a tool of the Zionist regime” and warned: “If the information is confirmed, the Emirates will pay for it.” At the same time, according to Reuters, Iranian state television, citing a military source, said that Iranian missiles were fired at “enemy units” in the Strait of Hormuz – in response to an attack by the US military on an Iranian oil tanker.
Explosions were also heard in the western suburbs of Tehran. Iranian state broadcasting attributed them to a test of an air defense system in the Bidganeh area and said there was no security threat.
Fox News reported, citing an American source, that the US Army attacked targets in the Strait of Hormuz.
The headquarters of the joint Iranian command Khatam al-Anbiya said that Iranian forces attacked US Navy ships, “causing them heavy damage.” The headquarters statement indicated that the ships were attacked in response to a violation of the truce by the United States.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the ships were attacked by missiles and drones. The attack was repelled, the ships were not damaged. In response, a strike was carried out on Iranian military targets. “US Central Command is not interested in escalation, but has all the forces to protect American military personnel,” the CENTCOM message emphasizes.
Israel denies any involvement in the incident. The Kan Bet radio station reported that in Jerusalem they are considering what is happening as an isolated incident.
Explosions were reported in Abu Dhabi overnight.
Later, Iranian state television reported a “return to normal life” and said that “the state of emergency on the Iranian coast and in the Strait of Hormuz has been lifted.”