Main points

  • Iran accused ‌the United States of violating a ceasefire ‌by targeting two ships at the ​Strait of Hormuz and attacking civilian areas, the country’s top joint military command ​said late on Thursday
  • ‌US president Donald Trump called Iranian leaders ‘lunatics’ after three US destroyers were targeted in the Strait of Hormuz
  • The ‌US military said it carried ‌out retaliatory strikes on Iran on ​Thursday
  • ‌Trump told ABC News ​that ‌the ​ceasefire ⁠with Iran ​remained ​in ‌place despite new ​strikes
  • The United Arab Emirates said its air defences were dealing with missile and drone attacks from Iran early this morning

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Katie Mellett – 21 minutes ago

Oil tanker arrived in South Korea after passing through Strait of Hormuz

An oil tanker that passed through the Strait of Hormuz arrived in South Korea on Friday – the first such vessel to reach the Asian nation by that route since Iran declared the critical waterway closed.

The arrival of the Malta-flagged Odessa, carrying one million barrels of crude oil, will likely ease Seoul’s concerns over energy security as the war in the Middle East drags on.

The hulking vessel was spotted around 10am (1am Irish time) near a mooring facility off the coast of Seosan, AFP reports.

Its arrival is expected to help stabilise supply, securing crude equivalent to nearly half of South Korea’s daily oil consumption, industry sources said.

Its cargo will undergo refining before being supplied to the market as petroleum products, including gasoline and diesel, the sources said.

The Odessa passed through the Hormuz strait on April 17th, a source said, during a brief reprieve in the blockade. – Guardian

Katie Mellett – 56 minutes ago

Oil prices rise by two per cent

Oil prices climbed and stocks across Asia fell on Friday after the United States said it had struck Iranian military sites in retaliation for Iran firing on US warships in the Strait of Hormuz.

The price of Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil, rose two percent, to about $102 (€86.84) a barrel. – New York Times

Katie Mellett – 1 hour ago

Trump calls Iranian leaders ‘lunatics’President Donald Trump arrives to speak to reporters at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026. Photograph: Tom Brenner/The New York Times President Donald Trump arrives to speak to reporters at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026. Photograph: Tom Brenner/The New York Times

Iran’s leadership has been branded “lunatics” by Donald Trump after three US destroyers were targeted by missiles, drones and small boats in the Strait of Hormuz.

The US military said the “unprovoked” attacks were successfully intercepted and none of the warships were hit.

In response, strikes were carried out against the “Iranian military facilities responsible”, including launch sites and command and control centres.

US headquarters said it did not seek escalation but “remains positioned and ready to protect American forces”.

Following the exchange, Trump warned Tehran that the US would “knock them out a lot harder, and a lot more violently” if they did not sign a deal to end the conflict “fast”.

Iranian state media said the country’s armed forces had exchanged fire with “the enemy” on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, while explosions were also reported elsewhere.

Writing on his Truth Social platform, the US president said: “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. They were completely destroyed along with numerous small boats, which are being used to take the place of their fully decapitated Navy.”

He added: “A normal country would have allowed these Destroyers to pass, but Iran is not a normal country.

“They are led by LUNATICS, and if they had the chance to use a Nuclear Weapon, they would do it, without question – But they’ll never have that opportunity and, just like we knocked them out again today, we’ll knock them out a lot harder, and a lot more violently, in the future, if they don’t get their deal signed, FAST!” – PA

Katie Mellett – 1 hour ago

UAE dealing with missile and drone attacks from Iran

The United Arab Emirates said its air defences were dealing with missile and drone attacks from Iran, early this morning.

The country’s defence ministry also said on X that “the sounds heard in various parts of the country are the result of the UAE air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones”.

Iran has targeted the Gulf nation with thousands of drones and hundreds of missiles since the war began in late February, with most intercepted. – Guardian

Katie Mellett – 2 hours ago

Trump insists ceasefire still in effect

Even after the United States and Iran exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, president Donald Trump insisted the ceasefire was still in effect and dismissed the Iranian attacks as a mere “trifle.”

“They trifled with us today,” Trump told reporters as he made an unannounced visit to the site of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool in Washington, which he is renovating. He was visiting shortly after the US military confirmed the strikes on Iranian military sites. “We blew them away. They trifled – I call that a trifle.”

The president then asserted the world would know when the United States considered the ceasefire over.

“​If there’s no ceasefire​, you’re not going to have to know,” he added. “You’re just going to have to look at one ​big glow​ coming out of Iran​. And they better sign their agreement fast.”

He was referring to the deal made in a one-page proposal from the United States that would have both sides reach an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end fighting for 30 days while they work on a comprehensive deal.

Trump’s effort on Thursday to minimise the outbreak of violence comes as he tries to keep a lid on the most serious crisis of his presidency – a war in Iran that has lasted longer than he predicted and has caused growing political problems at home.

Asked whether Iran has responded to the one-page proposal, Trump said that it was “more than a one-page offer,” and provided an overview about the agreement’s sticking points.

“It’s an offer that basically said they will not have nuclear weapons​,” he said​. “They’re going to hand us the nuclear dust and many other things that we want​.”

When asked whether they had agreed to that, he said yes, but added: “When​ they agree, it doesn’t mean much, because the next day they forget.​” – New York Times

Katie Mellett – 2 hours ago

US strikes military targets in Iran after Navy destroyers attacked

The US struck military targets in Iran overnight after the country fired on three Navy destroyers sailing in the Strait of Hormuz, an escalation that threatened to fracture a fragile ceasefire and reignite hostilities even as the two sides say they are discussing an end to the war.

Iran’s assault on three US warships involved “multiple missiles, drones and small boats”, a US Central Command statement said on Thursday evening, US time, adding “no US assets were struck”.

US forces responded by eliminating “inbound threats” and targeting Iranian missile and drone launch sites, command and control locations and intelligence facilities that were deemed “responsible for attacking US forces”, it said.

The latest clash heightens tensions in the region as the US attempts to exit a war now in its third month. The Trump administration has been waiting for Iran to respond to its proposal to reopen the strait and end the conflict, which has killed thousands of people and triggered a global energy crisis.

“Just like we knocked them out again today, we’ll knock them out a lot harder, and a lot more violently, in the future, if they don’t get their Deal signed, FAST!” president Donald Trump said in a social media post.

Iran’s leaders have not yet indicated whether they will accept the terms of the offer, though they have shown little sign of yielding on their nuclear programme or accepting a moratorium on enriching uranium – both top US demands.

In a bid to ease the crisis, the US president had announced “Project Freedom”, an initiative to help ships transit the strait, before abruptly suspending it. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have lifted restrictions on the US military’s ability to use regional bases, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, a move that could allow the Trump administration to restart the effort to ease traffic through the strait.

A Central Command official referred questions about the reporting on the bases to the Saudi and Kuwaiti governments. Asked whether Project Freedom would be restarted, the official declined to speculate. The Kuwaiti and Saudi embassies did not respond to requests for comment. – Bloomberg