U.S. Fires on Two Iranian-Flagged Tankers Near Strait of Hormuz, Trump Expects Iran Response

The United States fired on two Iranian-flagged oil tankers after a flareup near the Strait of Hormuz, with CNN reporting that the U.S. military said it disabled the tankers trying to bypass an ongoing blockade.

“The military tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continued on Friday, following a clash that occurred on Thursday evening between Iranian and American forces, followed by strikes on coastal areas south of Iran, while the two sides remain committed to a ceasefire, awaiting diplomatic progress”

Al-Jazeera Net

President Donald Trump told CNN that the U.S. expects a response tonight from Iran on a proposal to end the war, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio added he hopes “it’s a serious offer.”

Al-Jazeera Net

CNN also reported that Trump said the U.S. might resume a short-lived operation to guide ships through the waterway, after he paused it earlier this week citing progress in negotiations with Iran.

In parallel, the BBC reported Trump said the ceasefire is still in place despite a clash between Iran and U.S. naval destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides blaming the other.

The BBC said the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Defence reported its air defences were “actively engaging” with a missile and drone attack from Iran, and later said two ballistic missiles and three UAVs had been launched resulting in three “moderate injuries.”

In the BBC’s account, the U.S. described the Iranian attacks as an “unprovoked attack,” while Trump said Iran “trifled with us today” after the exchange of fire.

The BBC also quoted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying, “Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the US opts for a reckless military adventure.”

AP News

NBC News reported Trump said the U.S. and Iran exchanged fire near the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, and that he told NBC in a phone interview that “It’s over when it’s over.”

NBC News further said U.S. Central Command stated that Iranian military “launched multiple missiles, drones and small boats” at three U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers and that “No U.S. assets were struck.”

NPR reported that Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned what it called “hostile” U.S. military action, saying it violated the ceasefire, while Rubio told reporters, “They threaten Americans, they are going to be blown up.”

As the U.S. waited for Iran’s response to its proposal, the Guardian reported that U.S. Central Command claimed it struck two “unladen” Iranian-flagged oil tankers and said it had “disabled both tankers after firing precision munitions into their smokestacks.”

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Axios

The Guardian also reported that Satellite images reviewed by the Associated Press showed an oil slick spreading off Iran’s Kharg Island, with Orbital EOS telling the New York Times the spill appeared to cover more than 52 sq km (20 sq miles) as of Thursday.

CBS News said the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against 10 individuals and companies accused of helping enable Iran’s drone and ballistic missile programs, targeting those “that are enabling efforts by Iran's military to secure weapons.”

AP News said Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz has jolted the world economy and cited that before the war a fifth of the world’s traded oil typically flowed through the strait every day, while the closure left “hundreds of ships stranded in the Persian Gulf.”

AP News also quantified the human and shipping impact, saying 22,500 mariners were stranded on vessels in the Persian Gulf and that the U.N. World Food Program estimated 45 million people could experience hunger if the strait does not open soon.