Published On 8 May 20268 May 2026
Iran has accused the United States of violating their ceasefire by targeting two ships near the Strait of Hormuz and attacking civilian areas along the country’s southern coast, as tensions continue to escalate around the strategic waterway.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces intercepted “unprovoked Iranian attacks” and responded with “self-defence strikes”, while Iranian state media reported explosions on Qeshm Island and said air defence systems had intercepted several drones over the area.
Qeshm is strategically located at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz and is seen as the primary platform for Iran’s “asymmetric” naval power, analysts say.
The latest exchange came just a day after US President Donald Trump said a deal with Tehran could be within reach, following what he described as “very good talks”, while also warning that the US could resume bombing if Iran refused to agree to a deal.
Here is what we know about what’s been happening the past 24 hours:
In Iran
- Pezeshkian reveals rare meeting with Khamenei: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he recently met Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, and described the encounter as candid and conducted in an atmosphere of mutual trust, in one of the first publicly acknowledged interactions involving Iran’s recently appointed top leader since the war with the US and Israel began.
- Tehran rejects vessel attack claims: Iran denied that it was behind an explosion that damaged a South Korean ship in the Strait of Hormuz this week. Tehran’s embassy in Seoul said on Thursday that it “firmly rejects and categorically denies any allegations regarding the involvement of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the incident involving damage to a Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz”.
- Iran accuses US of ceasefire breaches: Iran accused the US of violating the ceasefire by attacking two vessels near the Strait of Hormuz and carrying out strikes on civilian areas along Iran’s southern coast. Iranian state media said Tehran’s forces retaliated by attacking US military vessels near the strait and warned of a “crushing response” to any further aggression.
- Iran may soften nuclear stance after war: Analyst Negar Mortazavi said Tehran could show greater flexibility on its nuclear programme once the conflict ends, though she added that Iran is unlikely to hand over its enriched uranium directly to the US. Mortazavi told Al Jazeera that Iran believes negotiations with the Trump administration require “time and patience”, noting Tehran had previously entered talks with Washington only to later come under attack.
