Washington and Tehran have exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing each other of “unprovoked” violations
Published 7 May, 2026 21:11
| Updated 8 May, 2026 04:36
FILE PHOTO: A satellite view of the Strait of Hormuz © Gallo Images / Orbital Horizon / Copernicus Sentinel Data 2026
The US military has launched a wave of strikes on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran accused Washington of violating the ceasefire and retaliated against American warships in the area.
President Donald Trump downplayed the latest strikes as “just a love tap,” after Tehran “trifled” with Washington, while warning that the US would strike Iran “a lot harder, and a lot more violently” unless Tehran signs a deal “fast.”
“I’ll let you know when there’s no ceasefire… You’re just going to have to look at one big glow coming out of Iran,” the US leader stated.
US Central Command claimed it targeted Iranian launch sites, command-and-control locations, and surveillance nodes in “self-defense.”
The US Department of War accused Iran of an “unprovoked” missile, drone, and small-boat attack on the USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason – all of which are involved in imposing the blockade of Iranian ports.
Tehran, however, accused Washington of violating the ceasefire first by attacking an oil tanker inside Iranian territorial waters and coordinating with “some regional countries” to strike civilian areas along the coasts of Bandar Khamir, Sirik, and Qeshm Island.
The IRGC Navy claimed that three US warships fled the strategic waterway after suffering “significant damage.” Both CENTCOM and Trump insisted that no US assets were hit.
Here are the latest developments:
- Ahead of the latest escalation, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait reportedly lifted restrictions on US military access to bases and airspace, which had previously forced Trump to halt his much-hyped Project Freedom military escort operation in Hormuz.
- The Department of War did not specify which areas of Iran were hit, but a senior US official told Fox News that American forces struck Iran’s Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas, as well as the Bandar Kargan naval checkpoint in Minab.
- RT’s crew filmed flashes in the sky over Tehran after Iranian media reported that air defenses had also been activated in western Tehran to counter “hostile targets.”
This live coverage has now ended. Read the key developments below as they happened.
Show latestShow oldest
-
08 May 2026
03:44 GMT
Russia and China have vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, saying it was “one-sided and confrontational” and risked triggering a new wave of escalation in the Middle East, Moscow’s mission to the UN has said.
“Our country does not support dangerous attempts to imbue the document with unbalanced language and one-sided demands vis-à-vis Tehran while completely ignoring the root cause of the crisis, which is the US-Israeli military escapade against Iran,” Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, told the council on Thursday.
Russia had instead put forward a joint alternative draft calling on all parties to end the war, refrain from the use of force, and resolve their differences through negotiations.
“The main point here is that freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf will only be restored when the conflict ends and hostilities cease,” Nebenzia said. “We support the relevant initiatives of our Pakistani friends and hope that their mediation efforts will yield the sought-after result… especially since President Trump is speaking about ending the conflict.”
- 03:15 GMT
President Trump has said he suspended Project Freedom, the US military escort operation in the Strait of Hormuz, at Pakistan’s request – insisting that Washington could resume the operation at any time if necessary.
“Pakistan has been fantastic; and their leaders have been fantastic, the field marshal and the prime minister – and they asked us not to do it,” Trump told reporters.
“We’ll go back to it if we have to. They asked us not to do it during the negotiation,” he added.
Reporter: Why was project freedom suspended? Trump: Because of the wonderful leadership in Pakistan asked us not to do it. pic.twitter.com/MtKNehuBZ5
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 8, 2026
- 02:58 GMT
President Donald Trump has said the US proposal aimed at ending the conflict with Iran is more extensive than a “one-page offer.”
“It’s an offer that basically says they will not have nuclear weapons, they are going to hand us the nuclear dust and many other things that we want,” Trump told reporters, insisting that Tehran has already “agreed” to the deal in principle.
“When they agree, it doesn’t mean much because the next day they forget they agreed,” he added.
Iran has not yet finalized its response, according to Iranian media, which reported that Tehran is still reviewing US “messages” relayed through Pakistani intermediaries.
- 02:44 GMT
The UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority has said the country’s air-defense systems are responding to missile and drone threats.
Air defense systems are currently responding to a missile threat. Please remain in a safe location and follow official channels for warnings and updates. pic.twitter.com/svLtlaHPaP
— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) May 8, 2026
- 01:39 GMT
President Trump has downplayed the exchange of fire with Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran had “trifled” with Washington and that US forces had responded decisively.
“They trifled with us today. We blew them away. I call that a trifle,” Trump said, insisting the ceasefire with Iran remains in effect.
“I’ll let you know when there’s no ceasefire… You’re not going to have to know. You’re just going to have to look at one big glow coming out of Iran,” he said, urging Tehran to sign an agreement “fast.”
-
07 May 2026
23:33 GMT
Iranian state media have circulated footage purportedly showing the country’s armed forces launching missiles and drones at “enemy aggressor destroyers” during the exchange of fire earlier tonight.
- 22:51 GMT
The situation on Iranian islands and in coastal cities near the Strait of Hormuz has seemignly returned to normal following the exchange of fire in recent hours, Iranian media, including Press TV and IRIB, have reported.
- 22:46 GMT
President Donald Trump has said three US destroyers successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz “under fire,” claiming that “great damage was done to the Iranian attackers.”
“They were completely destroyed, along with numerous small boats, which are being used to take the place of their fully decapitated Navy… Missiles were shot at our Destroyers, and were easily knocked down. Likewise, drones came, and were incinerated while in the air. They dropped ever so beautifully down to the Ocean, very much like a butterfly dropping to its grave!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
The US president said the destroyers sustained no damage and would now rejoin the US naval blockade, which he described as a “Wall of Steel.”
Trump also warned that the US would strike Iran “a lot harder, and a lot more violently” unless Tehran signs a deal “fast.”
- 22:30 GMT
President Donald Trump has described the latest US strikes on Iran as a “love tap,” while insisting that the April 7 ceasefire remains in effect.
“It’s just a love tap,” Trump told ABC’s Rachel Scott in a phone call. Asked whether the strikes meant the ceasefire was over, Trump replied: “No, no, the ceasefire is going. It’s in effect.”
- 21:52 GMT
The US military has also struck Iran’s Bandar Kargan naval checkpoint in Minab, Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin reported on X, citing a senior US official. The reported strike follows earlier US attacks on Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas.
I can confirm from senior US official that the US military also just struck Iran’s Bandar Kargan naval checkpoint in Minab.
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) May 7, 2026
The US Department of War confirmed the exchange of fire but has not officially listed the targets. CENTCOM claimed the strikes were “self-defense” measures after Iranian forces allegedly targeted US warships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
More
-
07 May 2026
21:10 GMT
The US military has carried out strikes on Iran’s Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas, Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin reported on X, citing a senior US official.
The official insisted that the strikes do not represent a restart of the war or the end of the April 7 ceasefire, according to Griffin.
Griffin also reported, citing a senior US official, that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait had briefly withdrawn permission for the US to use their bases and airspace for the now-paused Project Freedom operation, but that the decision had since been reversed.
NEW: US military just carried out strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Port and Bandar Abbas: Senior US official tells me, but this is NOT a restarting of the war.MORE
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) May 7, 2026
- 21:17 GMT
Iran’s Central Headquarters of Hazrat Khatam al-Anbiya has accused the US of violating the ceasefire by attacking Iranian maritime and coastal targets near the Strait of Hormuz.
A spokesperson claimed that American forces struck an Iranian oil tanker traveling from Iran’s coastal waters near Jask toward the Strait of Hormuz, as well as another vessel entering the waterway off the coast of Fujairah in the UAE. The statement also accused the US of carrying out airstrikes on civilian areas along the coasts of Bandar Khamir, Sirik, and Qeshm Island.
- 21:21 GMT
Iran says its armed forces have launched immediate retaliatory strikes on US military vessels following the alleged American attacks near the Strait of Hormuz.
“The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in an immediate and retaliatory action, struck US military vessels east of the Strait of Hormuz and south of Bandar Chabahar, inflicting substantial damage on them,” a spokesperson for the Central Headquarters of Hazrat Khatam al-Anbiya said.
- 21:22 GMT
RT’s crew in Tehran has confirmed hearing air-defense activity in the western part of the Iranian capital, where Iranian state media said air defenses had been activated against “hostile targets.”
IRIB reported that Iranian air defenses had been activated in the area, while Mehr said they were “countering hostile targets.” Similar reports were also carried by several regional outlets citing Iranian state media.
- 21:29 GMT
Iran has claimed that the US attacks on Iranian coastal areas were carried out “in coordination with some regional countries.”
“The criminal and aggressive United States and its supporting countries must know that the Islamic Republic of Iran, as always, powerfully and without the slightest hesitation, will deliver a crushing response to any act of aggression and violation,” the Central Headquarters of Hazrat Khatam al-Anbiya said.
The allegation comes after reports that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait had lifted restrictions on US access to their bases and airspace, potentially allowing Washington to resume military operations.
- 21:33 GMT
RT’s crew in Tehran has filmed flashes in the sky over the Iranian capital after air defenses had been activated in western Tehran to counter “hostile targets.”
- 21:36 GMT
Three US warships that had “violated” the Strait of Hormuz fled the area at high speed after coming under Iranian fire, the IRGC Navy has claimed
The force said intelligence reports indicated “significant damage” to the “American enemy,” according to Tasnim.
- 21:41 GMT
US Central Command has said American forces intercepted “unprovoked” Iranian attacks and carried out “self-defense” strikes as three US Navy guided-missile destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the Department of War, Iranian forces launched multiple missiles, drones, and small boats as the USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason moved through the international waterway toward the Gulf of Oman on May 7. CENTCOM said no US assets were struck.
The command said it eliminated inbound threats and targeted Iranian military facilities allegedly involved in the attacks, including missile and drone launch sites, command-and-control locations, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance nodes.
“CENTCOM does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces,” the statement said.
- 21:52 GMT
The US military has also struck Iran’s Bandar Kargan naval checkpoint in Minab, Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin reported on X, citing a senior US official. The reported strike follows earlier US attacks on Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas.
I can confirm from senior US official that the US military also just struck Iran’s Bandar Kargan naval checkpoint in Minab.
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) May 7, 2026
The US Department of War confirmed the exchange of fire but has not officially listed the targets. CENTCOM claimed the strikes were “self-defense” measures after Iranian forces allegedly targeted US warships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
- 22:30 GMT
President Donald Trump has described the latest US strikes on Iran as a “love tap,” while insisting that the April 7 ceasefire remains in effect.
“It’s just a love tap,” Trump told ABC’s Rachel Scott in a phone call. Asked whether the strikes meant the ceasefire was over, Trump replied: “No, no, the ceasefire is going. It’s in effect.”
More