American and Iranian forces exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, putting fresh strain on a month-old ceasefire that Washington says remains in effect despite one of the sharpest maritime confrontations since the truce began.President Donald Trump said three US Navy destroyers passed through the strategic waterway under fire from Iranian forces but emerged undamaged. The vessels were identified by US Central Command as USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta and USS Mason, all guided-missile destroyers operating through one of the world’s most sensitive energy corridors.
Trump, writing on Truth Social, said the warships had “transited very successfully” out of the Strait of Hormuz and that “great damage” had been done to the Iranian attackers. He said small boats involved in the assault had been destroyed and warned Tehran to move quickly towards a deal with Washington.
US Central Command said Iranian forces launched missiles, drones and small boats as the destroyers moved through the international passage towards the Gulf of Oman. It said no American assets were struck and that US forces responded with what it described as self-defence strikes against Iranian military facilities linked to the attack, including launch sites, command-and-control locations and surveillance nodes.
Iran presented a sharply different account, accusing Washington of violating the ceasefire by targeting vessels and civilian areas near the strait. Tehran said its forces had acted after an attack on an Iranian tanker and claimed that enemy units in the waterway had come under missile fire. Iranian state media also reported explosions on Qeshm Island, a key Iranian position near the southern side of the strait.
The clash has thrown renewed uncertainty over diplomatic efforts to stabilise the confrontation between Washington and Tehran. Trump insisted the ceasefire was still in force, describing the American response as limited, while also signalling that heavier strikes could follow if Iran continued attacks on US forces. The message combined reassurance to markets and allies with a warning aimed at Tehran’s military leadership.
The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the crisis because it carries a major share of global seaborne oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Any sustained disruption would have immediate consequences for energy markets, shipping insurance, freight rates and regional security. Oil prices moved higher as reports of the exchange emerged, reflecting concern that a ceasefire on paper may not be enough to restore confidence in Gulf transit routes.
The latest violence follows weeks of tension around efforts to reopen and secure maritime traffic through the strait. Washington has sought to project naval strength while avoiding a full-scale war, but each exchange raises the risk of miscalculation between American ships, Iranian coastal units, drone operators and fast-attack boats operating in crowded waters.
Regional governments are watching the escalation closely. Gulf states depend on secure shipping lanes for energy exports and imports, while also seeking to avoid being drawn deeper into a confrontation between Washington and Tehran. The United Arab Emirates has already faced spillover risks from the conflict, and any broadening of hostilities near Hormuz would test air-defence systems, port operations and regional diplomacy.
Iran’s position is shaped by both military pressure and domestic politics. Tehran has framed US naval activity as a breach of sovereignty and a threat to its security interests, while Washington argues that its warships were operating in international waters and responding to unprovoked fire. The competing accounts leave little room for easy de-escalation unless intermediaries can restore a mutually accepted version of ceasefire rules.
Diplomatic channels remain active, with efforts by regional and outside mediators aimed at preventing the confrontation from spreading beyond controlled exchanges. The central question is whether the ceasefire can be converted into a more durable arrangement covering maritime access, missile activity, drone operations and guarantees against attacks on civilian shipping.