U.S. And Iran Exchange Fire, Straining Ceasefire After Strikes In Strait Of Hormuz

The United States and Iran exchanged fire late on Thursday in the most serious test yet of their month-long ceasefire after U.S. forces said they intercepted Iranian missiles, drones and small boats targeting three American destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz and then launched retaliatory strikes on Iranian military sites.

“Asian stocks fall and oil prices climb after attacks imperil the ceasefire with Iran Asian stocks have retreated and oil prices climbed as the fragile ceasefire with Iran was strained by missile and drone attacks that prompted U”

ABC News

ABC News said Asian stocks retreated and oil prices rose on Friday as the fragile ceasefire with Iran was strained by missile and drone attacks that prompted U.S. retaliatory strikes on Iranian military facilities.

ABC News

The Guardian reported that Iran accused the US of violating the ceasefire by targeting two ships at the strait of Hormuz and attacking civilian areas, while the US insisted it struck in retaliation.

In the same reporting, the U.S. military said it targeted sites responsible for attacking three US destroyers transiting the strait, which it called “unprovoked” hostilities by Tehran.

ABC News also said Brent crude climbed 1.1% to $101.13 per barrel and benchmark U.S. crude rose 0.7% to $95.47 a barrel as the Strait of Hormuz remained a key transit chokepoint.

Donald Trump told reporters during an evening visit to the Reflecting Pool in Washington DC that Iran “trifled with us today,” adding, “We blew them away. They trifled. I call that a trifle.”

The Guardian said Trump insisted the ceasefire remained intact despite the strikes, describing the U.S. action in an interview with ABC News as a “love tap.”

Al Jazeera

Mint reported that Trump brushed off Iran’s attacks on three American warships as “a trifle,” insisting the ceasefire remained intact and claiming US forces “blew them away.”

Mint also quoted Iran’s military spokesperson as saying, “(The) U.S. and its allies must know that Iran will respond forcefully and without the slightest hesitation to any act of aggression or attack,” according to state television.

In the same Mint account, Iran’s top joint military command accused the US of violating the ceasefire by targeting an Iranian oil tanker and another ship, while Washington claimed its military action was a response to Iranian attacks.

ABC News said oil and fuel prices are expected to remain elevated for as long as the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed and a U.S. sea blockade on Iranian ports continues.

The Times of India reported that the renewed fighting cast doubt over whether the uneasy truce that took effect on April 8 can survive, with both sides continuing to threaten further action while discussing a possible diplomatic settlement.

The Times of India also cited projections from the Washington Post from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas saying oil prices could rise beyond $167 a barrel if Hormuz remains closed through September.

The Times of India further said the International Maritime Organization estimated roughly 1,500 vessels and 20,000 international crew members are now stranded in the Gulf region.

In parallel, ABC News said Tehran told it was still examining the latest proposals from the U.S. for ending the war, while U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters the ceasefire with Iran was still intact.