REUTERS, Washington

US and Iranian forces clashed in the Gulf and the United Arab Emirates came under renewed attack, but President Donald Trump said a ceasefire was still holding despite the flare-up, which dented hopes for a swift diplomatic resolution to the crisis.

The escalation came as Washington awaited Tehran’s response to a US proposal to end the war, which began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran.

Trump said on Thursday three US Navy destroyers were attacked as they moved through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital conduit for global oil supplies that Iran has all but closed since the war began. Yesterday, Iran accused the US Navy of “aggressive acts” against two Iranian tankers.

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

He later told reporters the ceasefire remained in effect and played down the exchange. “They trifled with us today. We blew them away,” Trump said in Washington.

Iran, however, accused the United States of breaching the ceasefire, which had largely held since it was announced on April 7 but has been under its biggest strain since Trump announced and then paused a new naval mission in the strait this week.

“Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the US opts for a reckless military adventure,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said yesterday.

Iran’s top joint military command said US

SEE PAGE 2 COL 4