The fragile cease-fire between the United States and Iran wobbled again Friday after fresh clashes erupted in the Gulf, with both sides trading accusations of aggression while fears grew that the conflict could spiral back into a wider regional war.
The latest confrontation unfolded in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway that carries roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, as U.S. and Iranian forces exchanged fire amid renewed diplomatic efforts to salvage peace talks.
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) implements a maritime blockade against the Iran-flagged crude oil tanker vessel Herby as it attempts to sail toward an Iranian port, Apr. 24, 2026. (AFP Photo)
President Donald Trump said three U.S. Navy destroyers came under attack while transiting the strait, though he insisted the month-old cease-fire remained intact.
“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.”
