Iran Holds Firm on Hormuz Strait Closure as Conflict Escalates

In a sharp escalation of tensions, the United States and Iran exchanged fire late Thursday, testing the fragile ceasefire that has held for nearly a month. The U.S. military said it struck sites it identified as responsible for attacks on three U.S. destroyers—USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta and USS Mason—claiming the strikes were a response to what it described as "unprovoked" hostilities by Tehran.

Iran’s Press TV countered that the U.S. had violated the ceasefire by targeting an Iranian oil tanker and another vessel entering the Strait of Hormuz, while also striking civilian areas. After hours of exchange, Iranian media reported that conditions on the islands and coastal cities near the strait had "returned to normal".

The United Arab Emirates reported intercepting Iranian missile and drone attacks in the same window in which the U.S. said it had neutralised threats to the destroyers.

Amid the flare‑up, President Donald Trump insisted in an ABC News interview that the ceasefire remained in place, dismissing the recent strikes as a "love tap" and stating that a negotiated settlement "might not happen, but it could happen any day." Trump also noted that Iran seemed more eager for a deal than he was.

Brent crude prices climbed to roughly $101 a barrel following the news of the clashes.

Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Washington and Tehran were close to a temporary truce, with a one‑page memorandum exchanged via Pakistan. However, senior Iranian officials have recently rejected concessions and are reportedly seeking to postpone negotiations until the U.S. midterm elections in November, hoping to secure a more favorable outcome.

Regional diplomats warn that Iran could overplay its hand, using the current moment to force a resolution and claim victory—an outcome that could become more difficult if full‑scale fighting resumes. They also point out that if no agreement is reached, the U.S. could unilaterally end hostilities, leaving Iran under intensified economic sanctions.

In a Thursday evening statement, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) confirmed that Iranian forces had launched multiple missiles, drones and small boats at the destroyers, but that no U.S. assets were struck. Centcom said it had eliminated inbound threats and targeted Iranian military facilities linked to the attacks, including missile and drone launch sites, command and control hubs, and ISR nodes, while emphasizing that it was not seeking escalation but remained ready to protect American forces.