Iran’s Foreign Minister has condemned what he called “hostile” U.S military action, saying that it violated the ceasefire.
In a post on X, he said that every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, “the U.S. opts for a reckless military adventure.” Araghchi said that “Iranians never bow to pressure” and questioned whether the U.S. actions were a crude pressure tactic or the result of “a spoiler once again duping POTUS.”
Araghchi also boasted that Iran’s missile inventory and launch capacity was at “120%” of prewar levels, attaching a screenshot from a U.S. newspaper report that said the CIA had found Iran managed to retain more of its weaponry after the US-Israeli bombing campaign than previously thought.
His post on social media came after US forces fired on and disabled two Iranian oil tankers today, Friday, May 8, 2026, after exchanging fire with Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz overnight.
The U.S. military said that its forces had disabled two Iranian tankers that were trying to breach an American blockade of Iran’s ports. Hours earlier, the military said that it thwarted attacks on three Navy ships and struck Iranian military facilities in the strait.
The U.S. military posted video of two Iranian oil tankers as their smokestacks were struck by an American fighter jet Friday, marking the latest confrontation between the U.S. and Iran. Both countries exchanged fire off Iran’s coast on Thursday as U.S. Navy warships passed through the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. also disabled another Iranian ship earlier this week.
Adm. Brad Cooper, the leader of U.S. Central Command, said in a statement that U.S. forces in the Middle East remain committed to full enforcement of the blockade of vessels entering or leaving Iran.
Iran has mostly blocked the strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy since the U.S. and Israel launched the war on February 28, causing a global spike in fuel prices and rattling world markets. The U.S. has imposed its own blockade of Iran’s ports. The UAE’s Defense Ministry meanwhile said three people were wounded after air defenses engaged two ballistic missiles and three drones launched by Iran. It was not clear if all were successfully intercepted.
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio said today that it’s “unacceptable” for Iran to have a government agency that vets and taxes ships seeking passage through the strait. Lloyd’s List Intelligence, a shipping data company, reported on Thursday that Iran has created such an agency, known as the Persian Gulf Strait Authority.
The Iranian effort to formalize control over the channel raised new concerns about international shipping, with hundreds of commercial vessels bottled up in the Persian Gulf and unable to reach the open sea. “Is the world going to accept that Iran now controls an international waterway?” Rubio said, adding, “What is the world prepared to do about it?”
A Chinese-crewed oil tanker was attacked near the strait. China has continued to import oil from Iran despite the effective closure of the waterway. China’s Foreign Ministry expressed concern, saying that the tanker was registered in the Marshall Islands with Chinese crew on board. There were no casualties reported.
An oil tanker that passed through the Strait of Hormuz in mid-April arrived off South Korea’s coast on Friday with 1 million barrels of crude. South Korea, which last year imported more than 60% of its crude through the strait, has capped prices of gasoline and other petroleum products.
Washington Awaiting Iranian Response To Latest Proposal For Deal To End The War
The violence came as Washington awaited a response from Tehran in negotiations to end the war. US. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that he expects to hear from Iran later today. “I hope it’s a serious offer,” Rubio told reporters. “I really do,” he added.
The attacks cast more doubt on a tenuous month-old ceasefire that the United States has insisted is still in effect. US President Donald Trump has insisted the ceasefire is holding. He also has reiterated threats to resume full-scale bombing if Iran doesn’t accept an agreement to reopen the strait and roll back its nuclear program.
Also, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said thar his country has been in contact with the U.S. and Iran “day and night” in an effort to extend the ceasefire and reach a peace deal.
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