Iran-US war latest: Tehran slams Trump’s ‘reckless military adventure’ with ceasefire on the brink after attacks on UAE

Trump warns Iran will be hit ‘more violently' in the future, if they don’t get the deal signed

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Donald Trump has insisted that the fragile ceasefire with Iran was still holding after three US destroyers came under attack from missiles, drones and small boats in the Strait of Hormuz.

Though none of the vessels were hit, Washington launched retaliatory strikes on what it described as Iranian military sites, including launch positions and command centres.

Trump called Iranian leadership “lunatic”, warning Tehran that Washington will “knock them out a lot harder, and a lot more violently, in the future, if they don’t get their Deal signed, FAST!”

Iran, however, said the clashes were an “exchange of fire” after the US allegedly targeted vessels near the strait and claimed its forces had inflicted “significant damage” on American ships.

Iran’s top military command alleged the US had targeted an Iranian oil tanker heading toward the strait as well as another vessel entering the waterway opposite the Emirati port of Fujairah.

Thursday’s attacks happened as Iran was reviewing a US plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end hostilities, according to multiple reports.

• Saudi Arabia forced Trump to pause Project Freedom after suspending US access to bases and airspace: report
• The three issues Trump and Iran need to solve for a peace deal to be agreed
• Trump claims doubled gas prices are ‘way down’ as his transport chief tells Americans to take road trips

Key Points

• Trump threatens to knock out Iran 'more violently' without peace deal
• Iranian state media says situation near Hormuz ‘back to normal’
• Briefing: What we know on the 70th day of the US-Israel war on Iran

Oil prices rise as US and Iran exchange fire in Strait of Hormuz

Oil prices rose and stock markets pulled back slightly on Friday after the US and Iran exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz, although Asian markets remained on course for their strongest weekly performance in years on the back of an AI-driven rally.

Brent crude rose 1.3 per cent to $101.60 per barrel as the renewed Middle East hostilities unsettled markets that had spent much of the week pricing in a negotiated resolution.

Iran targeted three US destroyers with missiles, drones and small boats in the strait on Thursday, according to the US military, which said the attacks were successfully intercepted and none of the warships were damaged. Strikes were then carried out against Iranian military facilities, including launch sites and command and control centres, it claimed.

Oil prices rise as US and Iran exchange fire in Strait of Hormuz

In picture: Iranian navy firing in Strait of Hormuz

A still image from a video shows the Iranian navy firing a missile at an unknown location.

Iranian news agencies reported that “several explosions” were heard near the city of Bandar Abbas, while commercial sections of a pier on Qeshm Island, the largest island in the Gulf, were reportedly targeted.

Iran’s top military command alleged the US had targeted an Iranian oil tanker heading toward the strait as well as another vessel entering the waterway opposite the Emirati port of Fujairah.

Tehran said its armed forces had “immediately responded” by attacking US military vessels and claimed to have inflicted “significant damage”, though the US said none of its destroyers were hit.

Southeast Asian leader meet in Philippines to discuss response to Iran war

Leaders of Southeast Asian countries are meeting today to discuss a coordinated response to the Middle East crisis.

The meeting of the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is being held in Cebu, Philippines, the chair of the bloc.

They are expected to press for a harmonised strategy to ensure energy and food security in a region particularly exposed to a nearly 70-day blockade of the critical Strait of Hormuz.

In opening remarks as chair of Asean, Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr said Asean was standing together to demonstrate its capacity to ⁠respond with unity and resolve, but must remain agile.

"We must ensure ​regional ⁠energy security and resilience," he said.

"At a time of heightened volatility, Asean must strengthen coordination and reinforce preparedness, pursue practical collective measures to safeguard a stable energy supply and improve interconnectivity."

The leaders are seeking to diversify suppliers ‌and routes and developing a crisis communication protocol, but it was unclear what, if any, action might be taken.

Saudi Arabia forced Trump to pause Project Freedom after suspending US access to bases and airspace: report

President Donald Trump dramatically backtracked on Project Freedom after just two days because its Gulf ally, Saudi Arabia, blocked access to its military bases and airspace, according to reports.

Just 48 hours after announcing the operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, the US leader paused the initiative to enable negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Iran had attacked ships across the Gulf and struck a port in the UAE on Tuesday.

It has now emerged that Trump’s decision to pause the operation was driven by complaints by Saudi Arabia, two US officials told NBC News.

Trump paused Project Freedom after Gulf ally ‘suspended US access to airspace’

Trump rebukes female reporter over ‘stupid question’ after Lincoln Memorial drive-by to check out work by his ‘pool guy’

President Donald Trump and members of his administration made an unusual visit to the Lincoln Memorial on Thursday, driving the presidential motorcade through the empty reflecting pool that the president recently ordered contractors to renovate.

When pressed with questions about why he was focused on an ornamental project when gas prices are soaring because of the Iran war, President Trump castigated ABC News reporter Rachel Scott.

The president claimed the memorial had previously been “disgusting” and that truckloads of trash had been removed since the pool project began last month.

Trump slams reporter over ‘stupid question’ about Iran war at Lincoln Memorial visit

Trump says ceasefire is holding after slamming 'lunatic' Iran

US president Donald Trump insisted the fragile ceasefire with Iran remained in place on Thursday despite a dramatic exchange of strikes in the Strait of Hormuz that threatened to derail ongoing peace talks.

He said “trifled with us”, referring to an Iranian missile and drone attack launched against US Navy destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz Thursday.

“They trifled with us. We blew them away”, Trump told reporters Thursday night, Washington time. “If 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”.

Trump did note that the US is continuing to negotiate with Iran. He said if

Trump later described the incident as a “love tap” and branded Iran’s leaders “lunatics”, warning Tehran it would face a far more violent response if it failed to sign a deal to end the conflict quickly.

When asked how close the US was to making a deal with Iran, Donald Trump said, “It could happen any day, and it might not happen”.

“I believe they want the deal more than I do”, the US president told reporters Thursday night, Washington time.

Iranian state media says situation near Hormuz ‘back to normal’

Iran’s English-language state broadcaster Press TV said the situation in Iranian islands and cities along the Strait of Hormuz has “returned to normal” as Donald Trump said great damage was done to the Iranian side.

"Three World ‌Class American Destroyers just transited, very successfully, out ‌of the ‌Strait of Hormuz, under fire. There ⁠was no damage done to the three Destroyers, but great damage done to the Iranian attackers," Trump wrote ‌on Truth Social.

"They ​were completely ‌destroyed along ⁠with numerous small boats," ⁠he said.

UAE reports drone and missile attacks from Iran

The United Arab Emirates said its air defences are "actively engaging" with a missile and drone attack early Friday as the Iran war's shaky ceasefire was again challenged.

The defence ministry said on X that sounds rang out across the country due to “ongoing engaging operations of missiles and UAVs”.

“The public is urged to remain calm and follow the safety and security instructions issued by relevant authorities.”

The ministry advised residents not to approach, photograph or touch "any debris or fragments that have fallen as a result of successful air interceptions.

"Hours earlier, the US military said it had intercepted Iranian attacks on three Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz Thursday night and "targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking US forces."

Trump threatens to knock out Iran 'more violently' without peace deal

US president Donald Trump has threatened to knock out Iran “more violently” if a peace deal is not signed following attacks on US ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

The US military announced Thursday it intercepted “unprovoked Iranian attacks” in the key oil waterway.

Trump later boasted about how the US Navy guided-missile destroyers were able to fight off the Iranian attack, writing on Truth Social, “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!”

The president warned, “Just like we knocked them out again today, we’ll knock them out a lot harder, and a lot more violently, in the future, if they don’t get their Deal signed, FAST!”

Watch: Trump says ceasefire still on after Iran 'trifled with us'

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