Trump Awaits Iranian Response as U.S. and Iranian Forces Clash in Strait of Hormuz

Fresh clashes have erupted between Iranian and United States naval forces in the Strait of Hormuz, shattering a fragile ceasefire as President Donald Trump confirmed he is expecting a reply from Iran “soon” to a proposed agreement aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.

According to Iran’s semi-official Fores News Agency, sporadic fighting broke out between Iranian armed forces and American vessels. The violence escalated after a U.S. fighter jet disabled at least two Iranian-flag tankers. U.S. Central Command stated that an F-18 Super Hornet used precision munitions against two ships in the Gulf of Oman, identified as the Sea Star 3 and Sevda.

An Iranian military official told local media that the country’s navy had responded to what it called “the violation of the ceasefire and to American terrorism and strikes.” The official added that the clashes have since ceased.

Meanwhile, satellite images reveal an oil slick spreading off the coast of Iran’s Kharg Island, a key oil export terminal. The apparent spill now covers more than 52 square kilometers, though it remains unclear what caused it. Kharg Island is described as the heart of Iran’s oil export industry and a lynchpin of the country’s battered economy, lying north of the Strait of Hormuz.

The war began on February 28th, after which Iran closed the strait, throwing global markets into turmoil and driving up oil prices. An Iranian official compared the strategic influence of the waterway to an atomic bomb, stating: “For years we neglected this advantage. In reality, it is a capability on the level of an atomic bomb. When you hold a position from which a single decision can affect the entire global economy, that is an extremely great capability. What we have gained through this war, we will by no means give up. If through international mechanisms we can in fact change the regime governing the strait then fine, otherwise we will do it through our own domestic laws.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated on Friday that it was unacceptable for Iran to control the crucial oil conduit. Speaking to reporters in Rome, Rubio said: “Well, we should know something today. I mean, 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.”

President Trump later added from the White House: “I’m getting a letter supposedly tonight, so we’ll see how that goes.”

Separately, Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Washington on Friday to discuss efforts to broker a permanent peace. Iran has repeatedly attacked sites in Qatar during the war, pointing to the wealthy emirate’s role as host of a major U.S. air base.