U.S. Fires on Iranian Tankers in Strait of Hormuz as Marco Rubio Awaits Tehran Response

Fresh sporadic clashes broke out Friday between Iranian and US naval forces in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media, as Washington awaited Tehran’s response to its latest proposal.

“US ally ​the United Arab Emirates said its air defences were engaging missile and drone threats from Iran early on Friday in a further ‌test of the shaky, month-long ceasefire between the US and Iran”

Aaj English TV

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington expected a response from Tehran on Friday to its latest proposal, while the semi-official Fars news agency reported: "For the last hour, sporadic clashes have taken place between the Iranian armed forces and American vessels in the Strait of Hormuz,".

Aaj English TV

CENTCOM later confirmed US forces hit two empty Iranian-flagged oil tankers and disabled a third vessel on Wednesday, adding: "All three vessels are no longer transiting to Iran,".

The fighting came as the United Arab Emirates said Iran fired two ballistic missiles and three drones at the country since midnight Friday, moderately wounding three people, and the Emirati Defense Ministry said 13 people have been killed and 230 wounded in the UAE since the US-Israel war with Iran began on February 28.

In Tehran, officials mocked Washington’s efforts to pressure them as exchanges of fire continued near the Strait of Hormuz, with Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei telling Reuters: "All of America’s plans to control the Strait of Hormuz failed today,".

The Times of Israel reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the United States of abandoning diplomacy in favor of what he called a "reckless military adventure," and he wrote on X: "Iranians never bow to pressure and diplomacy is always the victim."

Al Jazeera

The Institute for Science and International Security said in a new report that Israeli and U.S. strikes during the war significantly damaged Iran’s ability to produce a nuclear weapon, contradicting reported U.S. intelligence assessments.

Al Jazeera also reported that Iran accused the United States of violating their ceasefire by targeting two ships near the Strait of Hormuz and attacking civilian areas along Iran’s southern coast, while US Central Command said it intercepted “unprovoked Iranian attacks” and responded with “self-defence strikes”.

As the Strait of Hormuz becomes the central front in the broader confrontation between Iran and the United States, an adviser to the supreme leader Mohammad Mokhber compared control of the strait to possessing an "atomic bomb," saying: "The Strait of Hormuz represents an opportunity as precious as an atomic bomb,".

The Times of Israel reported that CENTCOM said more than 70 tankers were being prevented from entering or leaving Iranian ports, and that the commercial ships have the capacity to transport over 166 million barrels of Iranian oil worth an estimated $13 billion-plus.

The UAE’s injuries and fatalities were also folded into the regional stakes, with the Emirati Defense Ministry saying 13 people have been killed and 230 wounded in the UAE since the US-Israel war with Iran began on February 28.

Meanwhile, negotiations remained in motion as The Times of Israel said US Vice President JD Vance met at the White House with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani to discuss the ongoing Iran talks, with Qatar serving as a backchannel mediator between the US and Iran.