Trump says ceasefire holds after Iran 'love tap' 2026

What Trump said after the latest strikes

US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran remained in place even after fresh exchanges of fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz. In a phone conversation with ABC News senior political correspondent Rachel Scott, Trump described US retaliatory strikes against Iranian targets as a “love tap.” He also rejected the idea that the ceasefire had collapsed, saying, “No, no, the ceasefire is going. It’s in effect.” The remarks were reported by Scott, including in a post on X, where she wrote that Trump characterised the action as limited in scope.

Trump’s comments came as multiple reports described heightened tensions in the strategic waterway, a key global energy transit route. The latest exchange was framed by Washington as a response to attacks on US naval vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, for its part, accused the US of violating the ceasefire, including through strikes on vessels and Iranian territory.

Exchange of fire near the Strait of Hormuz

Trump earlier confirmed an exchange of fire between American and Iranian naval forces in the Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire period. In a post on Truth Social, he said three US Navy destroyers “transited very successfully” out of the strait despite coming under attack. Trump claimed Iranian forces fired on the ships during the passage, and he added that missiles and drones targeting the vessels were intercepted.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said three US Navy guided-missile destroyers were targeted in coordinated attacks involving missiles, drones, and small boats. CENTCOM said none of its assets were hit. According to CENTCOM, US forces responded with “self-defense” strikes against Iranian targets after what it called “unprovoked” attacks. CENTCOM also said it does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces.

Where the US strikes were reported

A Fox News correspondent cited a senior US official as confirming strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Port and Bandar Abbas, while stressing the operation did not signal a return to full-scale conflict or the end of the ceasefire arrangement. In posts on X, the correspondent wrote the action was limited and should not be read as a broader escalation.

Separate reporting also said US forces struck Iranian military facilities after Iranian launches of missiles, drones, and small boats targeted the destroyers transiting the strait. CENTCOM’s account said the US response included strikes on missile and drone launch sites and other military installations. Other descriptions of the targets included command and control facilities and surveillance infrastructure.

Iran’s accusations and claims of retaliation

Iran accused the US of violating the ceasefire by targeting an oil tanker and another vessel headed toward the Strait of Hormuz, along with conducting strikes on Iranian territory and coastal areas. Iran’s top joint military command also alleged US air attacks hit civilian areas on Qeshm Island and nearby coastal areas, including Bandar Khamir and Sirik on the mainland.

Iranian state media said its forces retaliated by targeting US military vessels operating near the Strait of Hormuz and claimed damage was inflicted on American assets. A spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters was cited as saying the Iranian strikes inflicted “significant damage.” CENTCOM, however, said none of its forces were hit.

Iran’s Press TV later reported that, after several hours of fire, “the situation on Iranian islands and coastal cities by the Strait of Hormuz is back to normal now.”

The destroyers named in reports

One report identified the three US warships as the USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason. Trump said the destroyers transited out of the Strait of Hormuz “under fire” without damage. In the same messaging, he claimed “great damage” was done to Iranian attackers and that Iranian naval boats were “completely destroyed.”

The US military’s public messaging emphasised interception of inbound threats and a limited response posture. Trump’s descriptions went further, asserting Iranian boats “went to the bottom of the Sea” and that incoming missiles were “easily knocked down,” while drones were “incinerated while in the air.”

Timeline and key details at a glance

Why the Strait of Hormuz matters for markets

The Strait of Hormuz is repeatedly described as a critical global energy transit route, so even short bursts of conflict tend to move energy prices quickly. After renewed hostilities, US crude futures rose as much as 3% in early trading in Asia on Friday, according to the reporting. That move highlights how traders often treat shipping risk in the strait as an immediate input for oil pricing.

For India, the channel from such events to markets typically runs through crude oil, the rupee, inflation expectations, and sectors sensitive to fuel costs. Any sustained rise in crude prices can affect fuel-intensive businesses such as airlines and logistics, and it can also complicate the outlook for inflation-linked interest rate expectations. The reports, however, only confirmed a short-term move in US crude futures and did not quantify India-specific impacts.

Background: a ceasefire under repeated strain

Reports described the latest episode as one of the most serious tests of a ceasefire reached earlier in April, with the ceasefire said to have taken effect on April 7. The same coverage noted sporadic violations and occasional exchanges of fire since it began.

The latest clash shows the gap between political messaging and operational realities at sea. Trump insisted the ceasefire was continuing, while both sides traded allegations of strikes on ships, ports, and coastal locations. CENTCOM’s statement focused on “self-defense” and non-escalation, while Iran’s statements focused on alleged violations and retaliation.

What to watch next

The immediate point to track is whether the ceasefire framework, which both sides referenced in their public messaging, holds after the reported strikes on ports and military infrastructure. Another near-term variable is shipping safety and whether further incidents occur as naval assets transit the Strait of Hormuz.

For markets, oil price sensitivity is likely to remain elevated as long as the region sees intermittent exchanges of fire. The next confirmed updates from CENTCOM, Iranian state media, and official statements from Washington and Tehran will shape whether traders treat the episode as contained or as the start of a broader disruption.