Washington awaits Iran response as Gulf fighting intensifies

WASHINGTON/CAIRO — The United States said Friday it expects Iran to respond within the day to Washington’s latest peace proposal aimed at ending the war in the Gulf, even as fresh clashes erupted between U.S. and Iranian forces and renewed attacks struck the United Arab Emirates.

The latest escalation marks the most serious violence in and around the contested Strait of Hormuz since a ceasefire took effect a month ago. Despite the flare-up, both Washington and Tehran have signaled that negotiations toward ending the conflict may be closer than ever.

“We should know something today,” Marco Rubio told reporters in Rome. “We’re expecting a response from them. We’ll see what the response entails. The hope is it’s something that can put us into a serious process of negotiation.”

Donald Trump said the ceasefire remained largely intact despite the recent confrontations. According to U.S. officials, Washington’s proposal would formally end hostilities before moving into negotiations over more contentious issues, including Iran’s nuclear program and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported explosions near Sirik, a coastal area close to the strategic waterway. Iranian media also said an Iranian commercial vessel was attacked late Thursday by the U.S. Navy near the strait, injuring 10 crew members while five others remain missing.

Trump claimed three U.S. Navy destroyers were fired upon while passing through the strait but sustained no damage.

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

Speaking later in Washington, Trump downplayed the exchange and insisted the ceasefire remained in effect.

“They trifled with us today. We blew them away,” he said.

Iran, however, accused the United States of violating the ceasefire agreement announced on April 7. Tensions have intensified this week following Trump’s announcement, and subsequent suspension, of a new naval escort mission in the strait.

“Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the U.S. opts for a reckless military adventure,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Friday.

Iran’s joint military command alleged that U.S. forces targeted an Iranian oil tanker and another vessel while carrying out airstrikes on civilian areas in Qeshm Island and nearby coastal communities along the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran said its forces retaliated by attacking U.S. military vessels east of the strait and south of Chabahar port.

Iranian military officials claimed the strikes caused “significant damage,” though U.S. Central Command said none of its assets had been hit.

Hours later, Iran’s Press TV reported that conditions on Iranian islands and coastal cities had returned to normal.

The conflict also spread beyond the waterway. The United Arab Emirates said its air defense systems intercepted two ballistic missiles and three drones launched from Iran, resulting in three moderate injuries.

Iran has repeatedly targeted Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases throughout the conflict. The UAE described the latest attacks as a “major escalation,” particularly after Trump unveiled “Project Freedom,” a naval mission intended to escort ships through the strait before pausing the operation after 48 hours.

In a separate incident, Iranian authorities seized the Barbados-flagged oil tanker Ocean Koi in the Gulf of Oman, accusing it of attempting to disrupt Iranian oil exports. State media said the tanker, reportedly under U.S. sanctions, was carrying Iranian oil.

Global oil markets remained tense amid the uncertainty, with Brent crude prices hovering near $100 per barrel as traders weighed the risk of wider conflict against the possibility of diplomatic progress.

Under the latest U.S. proposal, hostilities would formally end before negotiations begin on Washington’s key demands, including the suspension of Iran’s nuclear program and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump claimed Tehran had acknowledged his position that Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons.

“There’s zero chance. And they know that, and they’ve agreed to that,” Trump said. “Let’s see if they are willing to sign it.”

Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes and not for developing weapons.

Asked when a final agreement could be reached, Trump replied: “It might not happen, but it could happen any day.”

Iranian officials, meanwhile signaled cautious openness to continued diplomacy but insisted that any agreement must include guarantees against further U.S. military operations in the Gulf. Analysts said both sides appear eager to avoid a wider regional conflict that could further disrupt global energy supplies and destabilize shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries a significant portion of the world’s oil exports.

Diplomatic sources in Europe and the Middle East said backchannel discussions involving Gulf states and international mediators continued Friday in an effort to preserve the ceasefire and push both Washington and Tehran toward formal negotiations. While tensions remain high, officials on both sides acknowledged that the coming days could prove decisive in determining whether the crisis moves toward de-escalation or renewed confrontation.