Iran Breaks Ceasefire with Coordinated Attack on Three U.S. Navy Destroyers; U.S. Responds with Self-Defense Strikes

WASHINGTON — Iran launched a coordinated assault Thursday on three U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, violating the fragile indefinite ceasefire and prompting immediate U.S. self-defense strikes on Iranian military targets.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that Iranian forces fired multiple missiles, drones, and small boats at the USS Truxtun (DDG 103), USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), and USS Mason (DDG 87) as they moved from the Persian Gulf toward the Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM described the attacks as “unprovoked.” U.S. forces intercepted all inbound threats, and no American ships or personnel were struck.

In response, U.S. forces conducted self-defense strikes on Iranian military facilities responsible for the attack, targeting missile and drone launch sites, command-and-control locations, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance nodes near Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island. CENTCOM confirmed that the strikes were limited and proportional.

President Donald Trump addressed the incident directly, confirming that the three destroyers completed their transit safely. “They trifled with us today. We blew them away,” Trump said, describing the Iranian action as a “trifle” while noting that “great damage was done to the Iranian attackers.” He reiterated that the ceasefire remains intact but warned that further provocations would be met with even stronger force. Trump also confirmed he had paused “Project Freedom,” the U.S. operation to guide stranded commercial vessels through the strait, to allow space for ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Iran offered a sharply different account. Iranian officials and state media claimed the U.S. had first targeted an Iranian oil tanker and violated the ceasefire by interfering in Iranian waters. A senior Iranian military commander warned that any foreign military presence in the strait would be treated as hostile. Tehran accused the U.S. of striking civilian areas and vowed a “swift response” to what it called American aggression.

The clash represents the most serious breach of the ceasefire since it was brokered in early April following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. The U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports remains fully in effect and has continued to severely restrict Iran’s oil exports, costing the regime hundreds of millions of dollars daily. The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of global seaborne oil passes, has been a flashpoint throughout the conflict.

Oil prices spiked on news of the exchange, reflecting renewed concerns about stability in the critical waterway. Shipping companies have expressed caution about resuming normal operations even as indirect talks facilitated by Pakistan continue.

The incident comes as both sides have been exchanging proposals for a framework agreement that would formally end the conflict. Trump has maintained that any final deal must include verifiable limits on Iran’s nuclear program and an end to regional destabilization activities. Iran has insisted the U.S. must first lift the blockade before broader nuclear talks can proceed.

As of May 8, no further kinetic activity has been reported, but the exchange underscores how quickly the tenuous ceasefire can be tested. The administration continues to insist the blockade will remain in place until a comprehensive agreement is reached, while Iran has signaled it will not negotiate under military pressure.

CENTCOM and the White House have not released additional details on casualties or damage from the U.S. strikes. The situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains tense as diplomatic efforts continue behind the scenes.