The United States and Iran exchanged fire on Thursday in the most serious test yet of their month-long ceasefire, although Iran later said the situation had returned to normal while the US stated it did not want to escalate the conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The renewed hostilities erupted as Washington awaited Iran\u2019s response to a US proposal aimed at stopping the fighting, but leaving major disputes unresolved for now, including Iran\u2019s nuclear programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Iran\u2019s military, the US targeted two ships entering the Strait of Hormuz and also carried out strikes on Iranian territory. In response, the US military said it fired back after Iranian attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
US President Donald Trump told reporters the ceasefire was still in effect and tried to downplay the confrontation. \u201cThey trifled with us today. We blew them away,\u201d Trump said while inspecting renovations to the Lincoln Memorial\u2019s reflecting pool in Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, Iran\u2019s top joint military command accused the US of violating the ceasefire by targeting an Iranian oil tanker and another vessel, as well as conducting airstrikes on civilian areas in Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz and coastal regions of Bandar Khamir and Sirik on the mainland. It said Iranian forces responded by striking US military vessels east of the strait and south of the port of Chabahar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A spokesperson for Iran\u2019s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters claimed the Iranian strikes caused \u201csignificant damage,\u201d but the US Central Command (Centcom) said none of its assets were hit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Centcom said Iran had launched missiles, drones and small boats targeting three US Navy destroyers. In response, the US said it struck missile and drone sites and other locations linked to the attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The US military said, \u201cCentcom does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iran also warned it would retaliate if attacked further, saying, \u201cThe US and its allies must know that Iran will respond forcefully and without the slightest hesitation to any act of aggression or attack,\u201d according to a military spokesperson quoted by state television.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Later, Iran\u2019s Press TV reported that after several hours of exchanges, \u201cthe situation on Iranian islands and coastal cities by the Strait of Hormuz is back to normal now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two sides have occasionally exchanged fire since the ceasefire came into effect on April 7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier in the week, the US military said it destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted cruise missiles and drones as Tehran attempted to disrupt a US naval effort to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump urges negotiated end to war
Trump suggested that diplomatic talks with Tehran were still ongoing despite the latest clashes, telling reporters, \u201cWe\u2019re negotiating with the Iranians.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before the recent exchange, Washington had proposed a deal to formally end the conflict but it did not address key US demands, including Iran suspending its nuclear programme and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which previously handled around one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments. Iran said it had not yet decided on the proposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump also claimed Iran had accepted his position that it must never obtain nuclear weapons, which he said was included in the US proposal. \u201cThere\u2019s zero chance. And they know that, and they\u2019ve agreed to that. Let\u2019s see if they are willing to sign it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When asked about the timeline for a potential agreement, Trump said, \u201cIt might not happen, but it could happen any day. I believe they want to deal more than I do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In another remark regarding \u201cProject Freedom,\u201d Trump said that Pakistan had asked the US not to proceed. He praised Pakistani leadership, saying, \u201cPakistan has been fantastic. Their leaders have been fantastic; the field marshal and the prime minister.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll go back to it if we have to. They asked us not to do it during the negotiations,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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