In brief
- The US military has struck two Iranian oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
- The attacks cast more doubt on a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran that has been in place for a month.
The United States military has fired on and disabled two Iranian oil tankers after exchanging fire with Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz.
The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, reported another Iranian missile and drone attack.
The attacks cast more doubt on a tenuous month-old ceasefire that the US has insisted is still in effect. The US is awaiting an Iranian response to its latest proposal for a deal to end the war, reopen the strait and roll back Iran's disputed nuclear program.
Iran's foreign ministry condemned what it called "hostile" US military action, saying it violated the ceasefire.
"Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the U.S. opts for a reckless military adventure," Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X.
The US military said on Friday local time that its forces had disabled two Iranian tankers that were trying to breach a US blockade of Iran's ports. Hours earlier, the military said it thwarted attacks on three Navy ships and struck Iranian military facilities in the strait.
Iran has mostly blocked the critical waterway for global energy since the US and Israel launched the war on 28 February, causing a global spike in fuel prices and rattling world markets. The US has imposed its own blockade of Iran's ports.
The US military posted video of the two Iranian tankers as their smokestacks were struck by an American fighter jet on Friday. Earlier in the week, an American military jet shot out the rudder of a tanker the US military said was attempting to breach its blockade.
Late Thursday, the US military said it thwarted Iranian attacks on three Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz and struck Iranian military facilities in response. It said no American ships were hit.
It comes as US secretary of state Marco Rubio said he hopes to receive "a serious offer" of peace from Iran.
"They threaten Americans, they are going to be blown up," Rubio told reporters on Friday.
US President Donald Trump has insisted the ceasefire is holding. He also has reiterated threats to resume full-scale bombing if Iran doesn't accept an agreement to reopen the strait and roll back its nuclear program.
The UAE's defence ministry, meanwhile, said three people were wounded after air defences engaged two ballistic missiles and three drones launched by Iran. It was not clear if all were successfully intercepted.
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