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US Conducts New Iran Strikes Along Hormuz Corridor - Trump Says Warships Came Under Fire By 'Lunatics'

Tyler Durden's Photo
by Tyler Durden
Authored...

Summary

  • US military attacks Iran locations on southern coast, and allegations of UAE involvement; Explosions rock Abu Dhabi. CENTCOM says intercepted Iranian counterattacks.

  • Iran says US violated ceasefire after Centcom targeted Iranian facilities responsible for attacks; US says ceasefire not violated despite striking Iranian oil tanker and targets in Bandar Abbas and Qeshm.

  • The Trump admin mulls restarting operation to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz with naval and air support as early as this week after Saudi Arabia and Kuwait lifted restrictions on US access to their bases and airspaces

  • Iran national security commission 'red line': No uranium has left the country; The right to enrich uranium, the complete lifting of sanctions, and the release of the country's assets are non-negotiable red lines.

  • French nuclear-powered carrier steams through Suez Canal in support mission as Europe seeks diplomatic influence over Hormuz outcome.

  • First Chinese tanker reportedly attacked: shipping industry source told Caixin that this was the first time a Chinese tanker was hit in the three-month-long war, calling it "psychologically very hard to accept."

Strait of Hormuz traffic returns to normal by end of May?
Yes 36% · No 65%
View full market & trade on Polymarket

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Trump: US Warships Came 'Under Fire' By 'Lunatics'

Iran says US violated ceasefire as explosions are reported in the UAE (via Newsquawk)

IRAN SAYS US VIOLATED CEASEFIRE

Iran’s Top Joint Military Command says:

  • The US violated the ceasefire,
  • The US targeted an Iranian oil tanker and another ship entering the Strait of Hormuz,
  • Iran will respond “powerfully and without hesitation.”

US SOURCE SAID CEASEFIRE NOT VIOLATED

  • US officials, according to Axios/Fox reporting, say:
  • US strikes were carried out in Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas,
  • The strikes do not mean the war has restarted,
  • The ceasefire is not over.

ATTACKS

  • Iranian media and officials also claimed:
  • Three American destroyers were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz,
  • Iranian missile fire forced enemy units to retreat after suffering damage.

These claims are unverified.

  • Air defences were activated multiple times around:
  • Tehran
  • Bandar Abbas
  • Qeshm

REGIONAL TARGETS

  • Iran is accusing the US and “some regional nations” of striking targets in the Strait of Hormuz area.
  • Iranian media outlets reported explosions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai:
  • ISNA: explosions heard in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
  • IRIB/Fars: explosions heard in Abu Dhabi.
  • There is no confirmation yet on cause, damage, or responsibility.

Oil jumps on the developments:

CENTCOM Forces Intercept Iran Counterstrikes

CENTCOM confirms attack on Iran, and intercept of Iranian retaliation effort: "U.S. forces intercepted unprovoked Iranian attacks and responded with self-defense strikes as U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman, May 7.

Iranian forces launched multiple missiles, drones and small boats as USS Truxtun (DDG 103), USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), and USS Mason (DDG 87) transited the international sea passage. No U.S. assets were struck.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) eliminated inbound threats and targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking U.S. forces including missile and drone launch sites; command and control locations; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance nodes. CENTCOM does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces."

Confirmation of New US Military Attack

Fox News confirming a nighttime US miliary attack on Iran's Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas, however, with US officials seeking to downplay that this marks a restart of the war and bombing campaign. This comes via Fox chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin:

A senior US official tells me that it was a US military strike on Iran’s Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas moments ago but added this is NOT a restarting of the war or end to the ceasefire.

The strike on one of Iran’s oil ports comes two days after Iran fired 15 ballistic and cruise missiles at UAE Fujairah Port, eliciting anger from Gulf countries after top Pentagon leaders said Tuesday that the Iranian strikes did not rise to the level of breaking the ceasefire, calling it low level attacks that didn’t rise to that level.

There have been allegations of UAE involvement. Since the initial explosions, more follow up blasts have been reported via state media, along with some emerging images:

  • US CONDUCTED STRIKES THURS IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ AREA: AXIOS
  • IRAN CLAIMS IT FIRED MISSILES AT THREE US DESTORYERS: TASNIM

Further emerging images:

Iranian military statement: "Criminal and aggressive America and its supporting countries should know, Iran will respond decisively to any aggression."

Explosions, Possible Hostile Action Reported on Coast

During the night hours in Iran, state media has been issuing contradictory reports of mystery explosions along the Hormuz corridor. It's as yet unclear what's happening, but reports say a pier was struck near Bandar Abbas, with other southern areas witnessing possible drone activity, and return anti-air fire. There's little that's confirmable at this early point. Via DropSite:

  • Iran’s IRGC-linked Tasnim News Agency reports that some Iranian sources are alleging “hostile action” by the UAE at Bahman Qeshm Dock near Bandar Abbas, though no official confirmation has been issued.
  • Some reports claimed air defenses responded to two drones after multiple explosions were heard in the Bandar Abbas area.
  • Other sources alleged the UAE, described by Tasnim as acting “as a tool of the Zionist regime,” was behind the incident at the dock.
  • Tasnim emphasized the claims remain unconfirmed
  • Iran's Mehr says air defenses shot down two 'hostile' drones over Bandar Abbas and Qeshm.

Possible US military raid incident?...

Trump Reportedly Mulling 'Project Freedom' Restart After Gulf States Lift Curbs On Military Access

The S&P 500 fell to session lows as oil spiked after the Wall Street Journal reported that the US is looking to restart Project Freedom as early as this week and that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have lifted curbs on airspace access.

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have lifted restrictions on the U.S. military’s use of their bases and airspace imposed after the start of the American operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. and Saudi officials, easing a hurdle that had tripped up President Trump’s effort to move ships through the vital waterway.

The Trump administration is now looking to restart the operation to guide commercial ships with naval and air support that it had paused after 36 hours this week, U.S. officials said.

It isn’t clear when that could happen though Pentagon officials gave a timeline of as early as this week.

The U.S. operation to force open the strait relied on an enormous fleet of aircraft to protect commercial ships from Iranian missiles and drones, making Saudi and Kuwaiti bases and airspace critical to its execution.

The kneejerk reaction was higher oil prices...

...and the odds of a peace deal by the end of next week lower...

Trump had suspended the effort, called Project Freedom, on Tuesday evening, after a phone call with the kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in which the de facto Saudi leader conveyed his concerns and advised the president of the decision about base and airspace restrictions, the Saudi officials said. The president tried to get the Gulf leader to back down, they said.

Iran Reiterates Uranium 'Red Line' - Pushes Oil Up

While this is nothing 'new' - the timing is key, given the US is still awaiting Tehran's response to the latest peace deal proposal, at a moment reports say the President Trump wants to wrap this up.

Iran Secretary of the National Security Commission of the Parliament told Nour News: No uranium has left the country; The right to enrich uranium, the complete lifting of sanctions, and the release of the country's assets are non-negotiable red lines. Further he said that "Trump's claim about the withdrawal of 400 kilograms of uranium from Iran is a "political bluff and a pure lie." No uranium has left the country."

The return of such firm rhetoric, and the likelihood that this signals a rejection of current Washington demands, sent oil climbing back up...

Oil Slides on Reports of 'Breakthrough' Coming for Stuck Ships

A very optimistic but unconfirmed early Thursday report: Sentiment in early morning trade was lifted after Al Arabiya reported that "the coming hours will witness a breakthrough for the situation of the ships stuck in the strait".

"The American naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz is likely to be lifted after Washington and Tehran reportedly reached an agreement in this regard," the Saudi media report says. "The agreement between both the sides on lifting the naval blockade was reached upon on Thursday (may 7) after US agreed for a gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz."

Oil has been sliding through the morning...

And here's a huge but from Politico:

President Donald Trump’s constant belittling of Iranian leaders is alarming some Arab and U.S. officials familiar with the Middle East who worry that such insults could prove a major obstacle to truly ending a war that has strained the world economy. At the core of their concern is whether Trump is willing to show Tehran’s Islamist leaders enough respect to let them claim some level of victory, even if they agree to U.S. demands that leave them militarily weaker.

“He badly wants this to end,” a senior Gulf Arab official familiar with the peace talks said of Trump. “But the Iranians are so far refusing to give him what he needs to save face and leave. And he does not seem to understand that they need to save face, too.”

French Nuclear-Powered Carrier to Enter Red Sea, Gulf of Aden

France and Britain could be poised to very belatedly join the US military in Middle East regional waters, according to movements of warships as well as fresh statements. Egypt and France on Wednesday oversaw the transit of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle through the Suez Canal as part of a southbound convoy, the Suez Canal Authority announced.

The French Ministry of the Armed Forces has announced the nuclear-powered carrier is deploying to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden as part of a multinational effort to restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a fresh statement. So it's clear the convoy will remain largely in a background support role when compared to the US naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman region. Paris and London have also made clear their ships would only directly join Persian Gulf operations only once the war ended.

On a technical level, the White House has just this week sought to pronounce that Operation Epic Fury has ended, and Project Freedom has begun. It's unclear whether the European allies buy this designation, however. Marcon has sought to make clear that France is not a party to the conflict, but Europe is seeking a diplomatic voice at the table after spending the last two months largely on the sidelines.

Two Key Gulf Allies Reportedly Suspended Base, Airspace Access For US

President Trump abruptly halted plans to support commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after Saudi Arabia suspended US military access to its bases and airspace for the operation, two US officials told NBC. Kuwait is reported to have imposed similar restrictions in wake of being on the receiving end of Iranian missiles.

According to the officials, Trump caught Gulf allies off guard when he announced Project Freedom on Truth Social, triggering anger in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia is said to have responded by informing Washington that US forces would not be permitted to operate aircraft from Prince Sultan Air Base southeast of Riyadh or transit Saudi airspace in support of the mission. Other Gulf allies were also reportedly surprised by the development, with Drop Site News also reporting Kuwait has made a similar move to cut or restrict base access.

But here is how Trump framed the pause at the time in a Truth Social post: "Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally"... and he also said it was necessary "to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed." By the following day it became clear that the two sides were no closer to getting to the negotiating table, much less actually inking an agreement to end the war.

The White House is meanwhile denying the main content of the NBC report, with one official insisting that "regional allies were briefed in advance."

First Chinese Tanker Attacked Near Hormuz As Beijing Urges Waterway Reopened

There have certainly been escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz this week amid a wave of Iranian attacks on commercial ships after a U.S. military effort to escort merchant vessels through the maritime chokepoint. By midweek, tensions had simmered, and Iran is still reviewing a 14-point U.S. proposal to end the war, with Tehran expected to send its response to Pakistani mediators later today.

President Trump said talks with Iran have been "very good" and suggested a deal remains possible. Iran's Foreign Ministry confirmed the U.S. proposal is still under review. But when chaos erupted on the world's most critical waterway at the beginning of the week, a new report said that a large refined-products tanker owned by a Chinese shipowner was attacked off the UAE's Al Jeer port on Monday, according to Reuters.

Beijing-based business media outlet Caixin reported that the vessel's deck erupted in flames after the attack. The outlet noted the vessel was marked "CHINA OWNER & CREW." A shipping industry source told Caixin that this was the first time a Chinese tanker was hit in the three-month-long war, calling it "psychologically very hard to accept."

Shortly after the Chinese tanker was attacked, it became clear why, two days later on Wednesday, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for the swift reopening of the Hormuz chokepoint. "The international community shares a common concern for the restoration of normal and safe passage of the strait," Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Iran's Abbas Araghchi, according to an official Chinese statement. "China hopes that the parties concerned will respond to the strong appeal of the international community as soon as possible."

China's urgency to resolve the highly disrupted Hormuz chokepoint comes just over a week before President Trump flies to Beijing to meet with President Xi Jinping. The big question is whether China will cooperate with the U.S. to end the conflict and reopen the Strait, as much of the tanker flow through this critical waterway is destined for Asia, and the disruption has led to fuel shortages and soaring prices of crude oil and related products in the region.

"China likes to present itself as a great stabilizing force in the world, but imagine if they had a genuine diplomatic achievement, such as brokering the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, as proof of that," Richard McGregor, senior fellow at the Lowy Institute, told Bloomberg. He noted that some in Beijing would advocate for using the moment to "squeeze some concessions out of the US" on issues such as Taiwan. The first Chinese tanker attacked in the U.S.-Iran conflict, as well as the upcoming Trump-Xi summit, might be the catalysts for the international community to pressure Iran into a peace deal with the U.S. Meanwhile, a French aircraft carrier is transiting through the southern part of the Suez Canal and into the Red Sea, preparing to restore Hormuz tanker flows.

More Regional Developments

via Newsquawk

  • Al Arabiya reported that "the coming hours will witness a breakthrough for the situation of the ships stuck in the strait", spurring pressure in the crude complex.
  • Iran is expected to provide its reply to the US proposal for ending the war to mediators on Thursday, according to CNN, citing a regional source.
  • US President Trump could turn to military action without an agreement with Iran ahead of the China trip, according to Axios, citing US officials.
  • Iran is expected to provide its reply to mediators on Thursday, CNN reported citing a regional source.
  • "Arabic sources: Reaching understandings regarding easing the siege in exchange for the gradual opening of the Strait of Hormuz ", Al Arabiya reported; "The coming hours will witness a breakthrough for the situation of the ships stuck in the strait".
  • Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, "We do not talk about war and instead talk about dialogue and diplomacy. However, if any aggression similar to what we saw last year, we will respond; Pakistan will respond just as it did", Mallick posted.
  • Pakistani Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said "We have not yet received a response from Iran regarding the US amendments", Al Jazeera reported.
  • "Pakistani source to Al Arabiya said Iran may hand over its response to the US proposal to the Pakistani mediator today", Al Arabiya.
  • "No arrangements for any direct meetings between the Iranians and the Americans so far.".
  • "Contacts with the Iranians are ongoing and there are no obstacles hindering continued".
  • "Discussions are ongoing regarding the status of the Strait of Hormuz, and reaching understandings is still possible".
  • Pakistani Foreign Ministry said "We expect an urgent agreement between Iran and the United States", Al Araby reported.
  • "Israel was informed that Iran has agreed to transfer its stockpile of 60% enriched uranium to a third country that remains unknown", Sky News Arabia reported citing Israeli Channel 12.
  • Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson, on US-Iran agreement, said "we would expect an agreement sooner rather than later", Pakistani journalist Mallick posted.
  • "We will welcome any settlement wherever that takes place, if it takes place in Islamabad, it would be an honour and privilege.”.
  • The proposed agreement between the US and Iran may limit the IDF's action in Lebanon, Israeli press reported citing an Israeli official.
  • US President Trump, on Iran, said it will all work out very quickly.
  • IDF said it has intercepted suspicious aerial target launched from Lebanon towards Israel following sirens that sounded in Manara, Margaliot and Kiryat Shmona.
  • Lebanon's PM Salam said it is not seeking normalisation with Israel and it is too early to discuss any possible meeting with Israeli PM Netanyahu.
  • Iran has issued a message to commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, saying Iran's port is fully prepared to provide general maritime services and support to the vessels, IRNA reported.
  • US President Trump could turn to military action without an Iran agreement ahead of the China trip, Axios reported citing US officials.
  • US President Trump's reversal on his plan to help ships go through the Strait of Hormuz came after Saudi Arabia suspended the US's ability to use its bases and airspace to carry out Project Freedom, NBC reported citing US officials.
  • IRGC Navy Political Affairs Official said we will impose our control over the Strait of Hormuz, and any attack will be met with a plan beyond the enemy's calculations, Al Jazeera reported.
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