US President Donald Trump assured yesterday, Thursday, that the ceasefire with Iran remains in effect, after Tehran accused Washington of violating it following the announcement of US military strikes against “Iranian military installations” in retaliation for an “attack” on three American destroyers.

The US military announced that it had “targeted Iranian military installations” after three American destroyers came under “unprovoked” Iranian attacks while crossing the Strait of Hormuz heading toward the Gulf of Oman.

“They played with us today. We wiped them out. They played. I consider it insignificant,” the American president told reporters, adding that the ceasefire remains in force in his view and describing the US strikes as “just a simple pat on the hand.”

The new exchanges of fire, however, cast doubt on the ceasefire that came into force for one month on April 8, as Washington says it is still awaiting Tehran’s response — through Islamabad — to its latest proposal aimed at ending the war in the Middle East.

President Trump demanded that Tehran sign an agreement with the US “quickly!” through his platform, warning that “we will hit them much harder and much more violently in the future” otherwise.

“US forces intercepted unprovoked Iranian attacks and responded with defensive strikes as missile destroyers of the US Navy were transiting the Strait of Hormuz toward the Gulf of Oman on May 7,” the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X, specifying that the attack involved “missiles, drones, and small boats.”

US military forces “neutralized the threats and targeted Iranian military installations responsible for the attacks against American forces, including missile and UAV launch facilities, command-and-control centers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance bases,” it added.

“No American ship was hit,” CENTCOM assured.

“Lasting ceasefire”

The Iranian military command accused Washington of violating the ceasefire, condemning attacks against ships near the Strait of Hormuz. According to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, the Khatam al-Anbiya command of the Iranian armed forces said the Americans “targeted an Iranian oil tanker departing from Iranian shores (…) as well as another vessel.”

Iranian armed forces “immediately retaliated,” attacking “American warships” and allegedly inflicting “heavy damage,” according to the same source.

Iranian state television earlier reported explosions at a port on Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran has effectively closed the strategically vital maritime passage since the outbreak of war on February 28, a conflict that has cost thousands of lives — mostly in Iran and Lebanon — while placing enormous strain on the global economy.

“I strongly believe this ceasefire will become a lasting ceasefire,” said Shehbaz Sharif in a televised address yesterday. Pakistan has taken on a mediation role and remains “in constant contact with Iran and the US, day and night.”

In the absence of tangible progress in indirect negotiations, oil prices fell yesterday, though not dramatically, with Brent crude remaining just below $100 per barrel at closing.

Donald Trump said Wednesday that a peace agreement with the Islamic Republic was “very likely,” citing “very good talks over the past 24 hours,” while simultaneously warning of new bombings.

“Progress”?

On Tuesday, the American president announced that because of the “great progress” toward an agreement, he had decided to “temporarily” suspend the US naval escort operation for ships seeking to leave the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz — an operation that lasted less than 24 hours.

According to NBC News and the Wall Street Journal, Trump made the decision due to pressure from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The Journal described it as the most serious rift between Riyadh and Washington in years.

On the other side, although Iran believes the US seeks its “surrender,” it has not walked away from negotiations. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Wednesday that Tehran is “still reviewing the American draft and proposal” and will deliver its position “to the Pakistani side” once finalized.

The first — and so far only unsuccessful — round of direct US-Iran talks took place in Islamabad nearly a month ago, on April 11.

Around 1,500 ships carrying approximately 20,000 crew members remain “trapped” in the Gulf, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a UN agency, reported yesterday.

Washington has also imposed a blockade on Iranian ports since April 13.

Israel-Lebanon talks

On the other main front of the war, in Lebanon, Washington announced new talks between the Lebanese and Israeli governments on May 14–15 in the American capital, despite the supposed ceasefire failing to stop hostilities between the Israeli army and the Tehran-backed Shiite movement Hezbollah.

Two meetings at ambassadorial level have already taken place: April 14 at the State Department and April 23 at the White House. Following those meetings, Washington announced a ceasefire, theoretically in force since April 17.

The two states have technically remained at war since 1948; the April meetings were the first in 33 years.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday that a security agreement with Israel must be signed and “Israeli attacks must end” before any summit between the two countries can be planned.

Hezbollah, accused by political opponents of dragging Lebanon into the Middle East war by attacking Israel on March 2 in support of Iran, its main ally, accuses the Beirut government of choosing “surrender.”

The supposed ceasefire has not stopped the fighting. Israeli airstrikes killed at least twelve people, including two children, yesterday in southern Lebanon, according to the Health Ministry in Beirut.

For its part, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for new attacks against Israeli military positions occupying sectors of southern Lebanon.