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Iran condemns US actions as reckless amid Strait of Hormuz clashes
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the United States of pursuing a "reckless military adventure" instead of engaging in diplomatic solutions, as tensions escalate in the Strait of Hormuz. The criticism came a day after both nations traded accusations over attacks in the strategic waterway, with the US targeting Iranian vessels.
Ceasefire claims and military maneuvers
Despite the hostilities, US President Donald Trump asserted that a ceasefire remains in place, intended to facilitate negotiations to end the conflict initiated by the US and Israel in February. However, Iran was expected to respond to US proposals on Friday, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who expressed hope for a "serious offer" during a visit to Italy.
Strait of Hormuz: A flashpoint for global energy supplies
Iran has intensified its control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas. The country has also targeted US allies in the Gulf in retaliation for American and Israeli strikes. The ongoing blockade of the waterway has sent energy prices surging, exacerbating global supply concerns.
Earlier this week, Trump authorized-and subsequently paused-a US military operation aimed at freeing approximately 2,000 vessels stranded in the region since February. Meanwhile, the US continues to enforce a naval blockade of Iranian ports, a move Tehran has vehemently opposed as an attempt to coerce acceptance of US terms.
US disables Iranian tankers as blockade tightens
On Friday, US Central Command (Centcom) announced that US forces had disabled two Iranian-flagged oil tankers attempting to dock at an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman, citing violations of the US blockade. Precision munitions were fired at the vessels' smokestacks, preventing them from entering Iranian waters, according to a Centcom statement.
The blockade has effectively barred over 70 tankers from accessing Iranian ports, further straining Tehran's economic and logistical capabilities.
Diplomatic efforts amid persistent violence
The US has signaled its readiness to host a new round of talks between Israel and Lebanon next week, aimed at de-escalating clashes between Israeli forces and Iranian-backed Hezbollah. A US State Department spokesperson described the "intensive" discussions, scheduled for 14 and 15 May, as an opportunity to secure "lasting security for Israel, and sovereignty and reconstruction for Lebanon."
The US and Israel insist that any peace agreement must include the full disarmament of Hezbollah. However, the militant group has rejected the negotiations, which began last month between Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors in Washington. A fragile ceasefire, repeatedly violated by both sides, remains in place.
Regional mediation and calls for peace
In Washington, US Vice-President JD Vance met with Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Friday to discuss Pakistan's mediation efforts between the US and Iran. The Qatari leader urged all parties to engage in negotiations to address the "root causes of the crisis" and achieve "lasting peace," according to a statement from Qatar's foreign ministry.
Recent clashes and conflicting narratives
The latest US strikes on Iranian targets followed a series of exchanges in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, with both sides blaming each other for the violence. Centcom accused Iran of launching missiles, drones, and small boats against three US warships in an "unprovoked attack."
Iran's military command, however, alleged that the US had targeted an Iranian oil tanker and another vessel near the strait, conducting "aerial attacks" on several coastal areas. Mohammad Radmehr, an official in Iran's southern Hormozgan province, reported that one of the cargo vessels near Minab had caught fire. "Ten injured sailors have been transferred to hospital, and local groups and search teams are trying to learn the fate of the other sailors," Radmehr told the Iranian state news agency Mehr.
Trump vows further retaliation
In an overnight post on Truth Social, President Trump claimed that US forces had destroyed multiple Iranian small boats, missiles, and drones, inflicting "great damage" on the attackers. He warned that future responses would be "a lot harder, and a lot more violently," unless Iran swiftly agrees to a deal.
"Just like we knocked them out again today, we'll knock them out a lot harder, and a lot more violently, in the future, if they don't get their Deal signed, FAST!"
US President Donald Trump
