Thu, September 17, 2026
Washington/Tehran (Web Desk): Tensions between the United States and Iran flared sharply on Thursday as both countries exchanged military fire in the most serious challenge so far to their month-old ceasefire.
Despite the clashes, Iranian authorities later said stability had been restored, while US officials stressed that they were not interested in widening the conflict.
Iran’s military claimed American forces attacked two vessels entering the Strait of Hormuz and also launched strikes inside Iranian territory. In response, the US military stated that its actions came after Iranian attacks against American targets.
US President Donald Trump attempted to minimise the confrontation, telling an ABC reporter that the ceasefire remained active.
According to the reporter’s social media account, Trump described the incident by saying, "It's just a love tap."
Iranian state media later announced that conditions had settled and normal life had resumed following the attacks.
The latest violence erupted while Washington was waiting for Tehran’s reply to a US-backed proposal intended to stop the fighting, although the plan leaves unresolved several major disputes, including concerns surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme.
President Trump posts on TruthSocial: Three World Class American Destroyers just transited, very successfully, out of the Strait of Hormuz, under fire. There was no damage done to the three Destroyers, but great damage done to the Iranian attackers.
— Donald J Trump Posts TruthSocial (@TruthTrumpPost) May 7, 2026
They were completely… pic.twitter.com/HzxCey8tHh
Since the ceasefire began on April 7, both sides have occasionally traded fire.
Iran’s senior joint military command accused the US of violating the truce by targeting an Iranian oil tanker along with another ship and by carrying out airstrikes on civilian areas on Qeshm Island and nearby coastal regions around Bandar Khamir Sirik on the mainland.
Iranian forces said they retaliated by striking American naval vessels east of the Strait of Hormuz and south of the port city of Chabahar.
A spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters claimed the attacks caused "significant damage," though US Central Command rejected the claim and said none of its assets had been hit.
CENTCOM stated that Iran used missiles, drones, and small boats during the assault, which targeted three US Navy destroyers. The US military said it responded by striking missile launch positions, drone facilities, and other military-related sites.
"CENTCOM does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces," the statement added.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 7, 2026
Iran’s Press TV later reported that after several hours of exchanges, "the situation on Iranian islands and coastal cities by the Strait of Hormuz is back to normal now."
This was not the first confrontation since the ceasefire came into effect.
On Monday, the US military said it had destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted Iranian cruise missiles and drones after Tehran attempted to block a US naval mission aimed at reopening shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
Before the latest clashes, Washington had presented a proposal to formally end the conflict. However, the plan does not address key American demands that Iran halt its nuclear activities and reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which before the conflict carried around one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies.
Tehran said it was still reviewing the proposal and had not yet reached a final decision on the emerging plan.
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