US and Iran Clash Again in the Hormuz Strait, Trump Says Ceasefire Ongoing, Retaliatory Strike a 'Mild Punishment'

**May 8 – U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Thursday a U.S. Navy destroyer came under attack from Iran while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with U.S. forces responding immediately.** In its statement, CENTCOM noted Iran targeted three U.S. warships with “multiple missiles, drones and fast boats” — but no U.S. vessels were hit. U.S. forces “neutralized the threat” and struck Iranian military facilities responsible for the attack, including missile and drone launch sites, command and control centers, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) nodes. The command added the U.S. “is not seeking escalation but remains postured to protect U.S. forces.” Early Thursday local time, a spokesperson for Iran’s Armed Forces (Hatam Anbia Central Command) issued a statement accusing the U.S. of violating a ceasefire: it targeted two vessels — one sailing from Iran’s Jask coast toward the Strait of Hormuz, another entering the strait from the UAE’s Fujairah Port. The statement also claimed the U.S., in coordination with regional partners, carried out airstrikes on civilian areas along Iran’s Hormozgan, Sistan and Baluchestan, and Bushehr provinces’ coasts. Iran’s forces retaliated against U.S. military vessels east of the Strait of Hormuz and south of Chabahar Port, causing “significant damage,” the spokesperson said. A Fox News reporter cited a senior U.S. official who confirmed U.S. strikes on Iran’s Jask and Abbas ports (early Thursday Beijing time). The official stressed the strikes were not a resumption of hostilities or a termination of the ceasefire agreement. The port attacks came two days after Iran fired 15 ballistic and cruise missiles at the UAE’s Fujairah Port. ABC News reported President Trump described the retaliatory strikes on Iranian targets as a “minor punishment.” He said the ceasefire was in effect and working, adding: “If Iran does not quickly sign the agreement, we will deal with them more severely in the future.” The latest clashes have escalated regional tensions as the U.S. seeks to disengage from a three-month conflict. The Trump administration is waiting for Iran’s response to its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war. It remains unclear if Iranian leaders will accept the terms — though they have shown little willingness to compromise on their nuclear program or halt uranium enrichment, two key U.S. demands.