U.S. President Donald Trump insisted a fragile ceasefire with Iran remains in place after renewed fighting erupted in the Gulf and the United Arab Emirates came under fresh attack.
The latest clashes threatened to derail hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough in the conflict that began on February 28 with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Trump said three U.S. Navy destroyers came under fire while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies that Iran has largely shut since the war began.
“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.
Later, speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump downplayed the confrontation and maintained the ceasefire was still active.
“They trifled with us today. We blew them away,” he said.
Iran’s military accused the United States of breaching the ceasefire by targeting an Iranian oil tanker and another vessel, as well as launching strikes on civilian areas around Qeshm Island and coastal regions near the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran said it responded by attacking U.S. naval assets east of the strait and south of the port of Chabahar. Iranian officials claimed the strikes caused “significant damage,” though U.S. Central Command said none of its forces or equipment were hit.
Iranian state media later reported that conditions around the strait had returned to normal after several hours of fighting.
People drive past an anti-U.S. billboard depicting U.S. President Donald Trump and the Strait of Hormuz, in Tehran, Iran, May 4, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY
The UAE also faced renewed missile and drone threats, although few details were immediately released. Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases have repeatedly been targeted since the conflict escalated.
The flare-up came as Washington awaited Tehran’s response to a U.S. proposal aimed at formally ending the war. According to officials, the draft plan does not fully address American demands for Iran to suspend nuclear activities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said negotiations were ongoing and expressed confidence that Tehran understood it could not obtain a nuclear weapon.
“There’s zero chance. And they know that, and they’ve agreed to that,” Trump said. “It might not happen, but it could happen any day.”
