Pro-government demonstrators chant slogans during their gathering at Enqelab-e-Eslami, or Islamic Revolution, square in Tehran, Iran, May 4. AP-Yonhap
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military said it carried out strikes on Iranian military targets Thursday after an attack on three American destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran accused Washington of striking first.
The violence threatened to unravel a fragile truce in effect since April 8 that brought an end to weeks of U.S.-Israeli attacks on the Islamic republic, which has retaliated with strikes across the Middle East and by blocking the strait, a vital route for oil and gas shipments.
"Iranian forces launched multiple missiles, drones and small boats" at the three U.S. warships, but none were hit, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X, adding that it "eliminated inbound threats and targeted Iranian military facilities responsible."
"CENTCOM does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces," it said.
Iran's central military command meanwhile accused the United States of violating the ceasefire by attacking an oil tanker and another ship on Thursday, saying Tehran's forces "immediately and in retaliation attacked American military vessels."
U.S. President Donald Trump had fueled hopes of a deal just the day before, saying an agreement could be near, even as he again threatened to return to bombing if Tehran refused to back down.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran would communicate its position to mediator Pakistan "after finalizing its views."
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had struck an optimistic tone prior to the exchanges of fire on Thursday, saying in televised remarks: "I firmly believe that this ceasefire will turn into a long-term ceasefire."
But, inside Iran, civilians were cynical.
Source: Korea Times News
