UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — United States and Iranian forces traded fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, May 7, 2026, during an active ceasefire agreement.
United States President Donald Trump said in Washington on Friday, May 8, 2026, that the truce remained in place despite an Iranian attack on three American destroyers.
Okay News reports that United States Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted strikes against Iranian military targets after Iranian forces launched multiple missiles, drones, and small boats at the warships. No American vessels were hit during the engagement, and CENTCOM stated that it eliminated inbound threats and targeted the facilities responsible for the launch.
The Iranian central military command accused the United States of violating the truce by attacking an oil tanker and another vessel earlier in the day. Tehran stated that its forces immediately attacked the American military vessels in retaliation for the alleged maritime strikes.
The United Arab Emirates confirmed on Friday that its air defenses were engaging missile and drone attacks originating from Iran. Asked if the ceasefire was still active, Donald Trump said: “Yeah, it is. They trifled with us today. We blew them away. They trifled. I call that a trifle.”
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, said Tehran would communicate its position to mediator Pakistan after finalizing its views. Following the clash, Donald Trump posted on the Truth Social platform: “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!”
The violence occurred as the United States awaited an Iranian response to a proposed deal to end the conflict and reopen shipping lanes. A United States State Department official confirmed on Thursday that new talks between Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to take place on May 14 and 15, 2026.
Arsenio Dominguez, the secretary-general of the United Nations International Maritime Organization, told a Maritime Convention of the Americas meeting in Panama that approximately 1,500 ships and 20,000 international crew members are currently trapped in the Gulf region.
