Iran, U.S. exchange strikes as Trump rejects reported Hormuz proposal

DUBAI/WASHINGTON — Iran and the United States exchanged military strikes on Thursday, heightening tensions in the Gulf region after U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed reports of a proposed agreement involving the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest attacks underscored the fragile state of negotiations aimed at transforming an early-April ceasefire into a lasting peace agreement to end the three-month conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and disrupted one of the world’s most critical shipping corridors.

According to U.S. Central Command, American forces intercepted five Iranian attack drones and struck a drone ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was allegedly preparing to launch another aircraft near the Strait of Hormuz. Kuwaiti authorities later intercepted a ballistic missile reportedly fired toward the country, which hosts a major U.S. military base.

A U.S. official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of military operations, described the American response as “measured” and “purely defensive,” saying the actions were intended to preserve the ceasefire.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had targeted the U.S. base linked to an earlier American strike near Bandar Abbas airport. Iranian officials warned that further attacks would trigger what they called a more decisive response.

Kuwait condemned the missile attack and called on Iran to stop what it described as a serious escalation.

The violence marked the second flare-up this week and unfolded during Eid al-Adha celebrations across the region. Several countries have been drawn into the conflict since U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran began on February 28.

Pakistan, which has served as a mediator, announced that Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar would meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Friday, though officials have not clarified the scope or significance of the talks.

The conflict also intensified in Lebanon. Israel said it launched strikes targeting infrastructure linked to Hezbollah in the southern city of Tyre and carried out an operation in Beirut. The Lebanese army reported that one of its soldiers was killed in a strike, while Israel said air raid sirens sounded in northern areas amid ongoing hostilities.

Global markets reacted sharply to the renewed violence. U.S. crude oil futures climbed more than 2% after a steep decline the previous day, while stock markets weakened and the U.S. dollar strengthened as investor confidence in a peace agreement diminished.

Trump, who has repeatedly expressed optimism about ending the conflict, said during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday that negotiations had not yet reached a satisfactory stage. He emphasized that Washington was not considering sanctions relief, a key demand from Tehran.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced additional measures targeting Iran, including restrictions on Iranian airlines’ access to landing rights, refueling services and ticket sales. Washington also sanctioned Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority, which oversees navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Tensions rose further after Iranian state television reported on an unofficial proposal that would restore shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to prewar levels and place traffic management under joint Iranian and Omani oversight.

Trump dismissed the report and rejected the notion that any single nation could control the strategic waterway. In remarks that appeared directed at Oman, he said the strait remained international waters and warned against any exclusive arrangement.

Oman has not confirmed discussions involving joint control of the strait but has stated that it continues to engage Iran on issues concerning freedom of navigation. Tehran voiced support for Oman following what it described as threats from U.S. officials.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had stopped two vessels and permitted 26 others to pass through the strait over the past 24 hours. Before the conflict, more than 100 ships typically transited the waterway daily under international legal protections.

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly told parliament that the country had emerged stronger from the war and urged lawmakers to focus on national unity, reconstruction and economic concerns such as inflation and corruption. Iranian media also said Tehran continued to seek the release of frozen Iranian assets held abroad.

Iranian state television claimed that a draft understanding under discussion involved the withdrawal of U.S. forces from areas near Iranian ports and broader talks concerning the American military presence in the region. The White House rejected the report, calling it a “complete fabrication,” while Tehran offered no official comment.

Iranian sources said future negotiations may include discussions over Tehran’s nuclear program within a proposed 60-day framework. That possibility may face resistance from some of Trump’s allies, who have called for the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Tehran maintains that its nuclear activities are intended solely for peaceful purposes.

“The bottom line is Iran’s never going to have a nuclear weapon,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.