Tensions in West Asia rose sharply after the United States and Iran exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz. Both countries accused each other of breaking the fragile ceasefire and claimed the other side started the confrontation.

The fresh clashes raised fears that the already weakened truce could collapse completely.

Trump Says Ceasefire Still Holds

US President Donald Trump said late Thursday that the ceasefire still remains active despite the latest military exchange. During a phone call with ABC News, Trump described the latest strikes as “just a love trap”.

Later, in a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that US forces had “completely destroyed” the Iranian units involved in the incident. He said the confrontation involved Iranian small boats and drones that “dropped ever so beautifully down to the Ocean, very much like a butterfly dropping to its grave!”

Trump also repeated his warning to Tehran over its nuclear programme. He said the US would launch stronger attacks if Iran refused to sign a nuclear agreement.

“Just like we knocked them out again today, 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!” Trump wrote.

Fresh Clash Comes During Peace Talks

The latest escalation in the Strait of Hormuz came at a sensitive time. Iran was reviewing a US-backed peace proposal aimed at ending the conflict and restarting nuclear negotiations.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. Any military conflict in the area can quickly affect global energy markets and international trade.

US Says Iran Started the Attack

The United States Central Command, also known as Centcom, said American forces acted in self-defence after facing what it called “unprovoked Iranian attacks”.

According to Centcom, three US Navy destroyers were passing through the strait toward the Gulf of Oman late Thursday when Iranian forces launched missiles, drones and small boats toward them.

The statement said, “No US assets were struck.”

Centcom further said, “Centcom eliminated inbound threats and targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking U.S. forces, including missile and drone launch sites; command and control locations; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance nodes.”

The command added, “Centcom does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces.”

Iran Accuses US of Breaking Ceasefire

Iran strongly rejected the American version of events and accused Washington of violating the ceasefire first. An Iranian military official claimed that US forces targeted an Iranian tanker moving from Iranian coastal waters toward the Strait of Hormuz.

“The aggressive, terrorist, and bandit American army, violating the ceasefire, targeted an Iranian tanker that was moving from Iranian coastal waters,” the official said in a translated statement released through Iranian state media.

Iran also claimed that its armed forces immediately responded by attacking US military vessels near the Strait of Hormuz and south of Chabahar Port.

According to the Iranian statement, the retaliation caused “significant damage” to American vessels.

Ceasefire Faces Uncertain Future

Interestingly, the Centcom statement made no direct mention of the ceasefire agreement. The temporary truce had started on April 8 for two weeks before Trump later extended it unilaterally.

Despite diplomatic efforts and ongoing discussions over Iran’s nuclear programme, tensions in the region continue to remain extremely high.