Fragile Ceasefire Remains Intact Despite US-Iran Exchange of Fire
Good morning, and welcome to ’s Middle East live blog.
The United States reported conducting strikes on Iranian military targets following an attack on three American destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran, however, accused Washington of initiating the strikes. This exchange of fire poses a risk to the fragile ceasefire that has been in place since 8 April. Despite these developments, US President Donald Trump maintained that the truce remains effective.
“The ceasefire is going. It’s in effect,” the US president told ABC News, describing the strikes as “just a love tap”.
During a visit to observe renovations at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, Trump reiterated his position when asked if the ceasefire was still active despite the attacks.
“Yeah it is,” he said. “They trifled with us today. We blew them away. They trifled. I call that a trifle.”
On his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that there was no damage to the US warships but significant damage inflicted on the Iranian attackers.
“There was no damage done” to the US warships “but great damage done to the Iranian attackers”.
He further warned of stronger future actions if Iran does not promptly sign the proposed deal.
“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!”
The deal referenced is a one-page proposal from the US aimed at both sides agreeing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and cease hostilities for 30 days while negotiating a longer-term truce, according to the New York Times.
Iran accused the US of breaching the ceasefire by attacking an oil tanker and another vessel on Thursday. In response, Iranian forces claimed they immediately retaliated by attacking American military ships.
Reacting to the Gulf attacks, Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s national security committee, posted on X:
“Making the same mistake again and again won’t get you a different answer; only a stronger one. Respect the new maritime regime of Iran.”
The reciprocal attacks occurred amid explosions reported in Tehran, the coastal city of Bandar Abbas, and Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, as stated by Iranian state media. These incidents were attributed to the US and “enemy units,” with the semi-official Tasnim news agency suggesting possible involvement by the UAE.
