The U.S military said it carried out retaliatory strikes on Iran on Thursday (7 May). Meanwhile, Iran's Joint Military Command accused the U.S. of breaching the ceasefire, by striking an Iranian oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and launching attacks on several Iranian cities.
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U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday (7 May) that three U.S. Navy destroyers transited out of the Strait of Hormuz under fire.
"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," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"They were completely destroyed along with numerous small boats," he added.
U.S. President Donald Trump told ABC News on Thursday (7 May) that the ceasefire with Iran remained in place despite new strikes, according to an ABC reporter on X.
The U.S. military said it carried out retaliatory strikes on Iran on Thursday, targeting sites it said were responsible for attacking U.S. forces in what it called unprovoked hostilities by Tehran.
"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," the military said in a statement.
It added Iran had launched multiple missiles, drones and small boats as three U.S. Navy destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier, Iran's military leadership accused the U.S. of breaching a ceasefire agreed to back in April by striking an Iranian oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and carrying out attacks on several cities in Iran.
The U.S. has breached its ceasefire with Iran by striking an Iranian oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday (7 May), Tehran's Joint Military Command has said.
In a statement, the Joint Military Command - which represents the Iranian Army and Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps - said Iran would respond powerfully and without the slightest hesitation to any attack.
It also accused the U.S. of carrying out air attacks on civilian areas with the help of some regional countries, in remarks carried by Iranian state news network Press TV.
Earlier, a reporter for American news network Fox News said that an unnamed senior U.S. official told them that the U.S. military had carried out strikes on Iran's Qeshm Port and Bandar Abbas.
The official said the strikes didn't mean the end of the ceasefire.
It follows earlier reports in Iranian state media of explosions in several Iranian cities.
The U.S. military has carried out strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Port and Bandar Abbas, a Fox News reporter said in a post on X, citing a senior U.S. official.
The official said the strikes don't mean a restarting of the war or an end to the ceasefire announced on 7 April, according to the post.
The strikes took place as the U.S. awaited Iran's response to a U.S. proposal that would halt fighting between the two countries.
Earlier, Iranian state-affiliated media reported explosions in several Iranian cities
Iran's state broadcaster, citing an unnamed military official, said on Thursday that "enemy units" operating in the area of the Strait of Hormuz came under Iranian missile fire, following an attack by the U.S. military on an Iranian oil tanker, forcing the units to retreat.
Explosions have been reported in the southern Iranian cities of Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island. IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency, citing local sources, reported that explosions were heard in the city of Bandar Abbas and on Qeshm Island.
No details have been given regarding the size or source of the explosion, and no official statement has yet been released about the incident.
The U.S. on Thursday urged countries to support its United Nations resolution demanding Iran halt attacks and mining of the Strait of Hormuz, but diplomats said China and Russia are likely to veto it.
A Chinese veto would be awkward ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's trip to China next week, where the Iran war is like to be high on the agenda.
A previous resolution backed by the United States that appeared to open a path to legitimising U.S. military action against Iran failed last month after Russia and China exercised their vetoes in the 15-member U.N. Security Council.
Standing alongside envoys of Gulf countries that support the new draft, Washington's U.N. envoy Mike Waltz told reporters that any countries that "seek to throw it out, are setting a very, very dangerous precedent."
"We have to ask ourselves, if a country chooses to oppose such a simple proposition, do they really want peace?"
The new text was drafted by the U.S. and Bahrain, with support from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar.
Diplomats said the resolution ran into strong Chinese and Russian objections when the Security Council discussed it in closed session this week and would likely prompt them to veto this effort.
Pope Leo and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio renewed their shared commitment to strong bilateral relations between the U.S. and the Vatican during talks on Thursday. The Vatican said the meeting also took place against the backdrop of the Pope’s concerns over the escalating conflict in the Middle East and its humanitarian impact.
Leo, the first U.S. pope, met with Rubio amid tensions between Washington and the Vatican following President Donald Trump’s repeated attacks on the Catholic leader over the Iran war.
Israel and Lebanon will hold talks in Washington on 14-15 May, a U.S. State Department official said on Thursday.
Government offices in Iran’s capital will return to full in-person staffing from Saturday, Tehran Governor Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian said Thursday.
Motamedian said all ministries, organisations and executive bodies based in Tehran province would resume 100% staffing starting 9 May, according to the official IRNA news agency.
He added that schools and universities would continue operating in accordance with decisions by the Education Ministry and the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.
Oil prices extended losses on Thursday, with Brent crude falling nearly 5%, as hopes for a Middle East peace deal eased concerns over supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz.
The decline followed reports that the U.S. sent Iran a proposal through Pakistani intermediaries aimed at ending the conflict and gradually restoring passage through the key shipping route.
Markets were further pressured after U.S. President Donald Trump paused plans to support commercial vessels in Hormuz, boosting expectations of a diplomatic approach instead of wider military escalation.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s call came after a recent meeting with Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei that lasted nearly two and a half hours.
“I consider unity and cohesion more important than anything else; if we have endured until now, it is because of unity and cohesion,” he said.
The Iranian leader added that the “enemy believed that people would become dissatisfied because of the war and take to the streets, and target security and military centres in line with that assumption.”
The war in Iran has created uncertainty regarding the availability of gas for the coming winter, the Swiss Federal Electricity Commission said on Thursday.
In an extreme scenario, this could also affect the stability of the European and Swiss electricity supply, it said.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said he recently met Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, state media reported on Thursday.
It is the first public confirmation of such a meeting following reports that Khamenei was severely wounded at the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
The meeting was marked by a "humble and deeply cordial" atmosphere, Pezeshkian was reported as saying.
A source in the Iranian Foreign Ministry has told AnewZ it is unlikely Iran will respond to the U.S. today.
The jump in diesel prices triggered by the Iran war is expected to accelerate electrification of China’s heavy truck fleet this year, analysts and automakers say.
Electric heavy truck sales grew over the last two years from a niche market to nearly a third of new heavy truck purchases in 2025 thanks to government subsidies.
Last year's growth was particularly weighted in the fourth quarter because buyers also thought the trade-in subsidy programme would be ending soon.
New-energy heavy truck sales began this year with the same kind of pop, growing 45% year-on-year to 44,000 units and accounting for more than a quarter of the segment, according to data provider CVWorld.cn.
The French government is preparing to provide financial aid for airlines hit by jet fuel price hikes, Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said.
Tabarot shared on X that the government and airlines had made progress in a meeting on Wednesday on aid including deferrals of social security contributions, extended tax payment deadlines and flexibility on fuel loads.
European authorities are scrambling for solutions to prevent broad aviation disruptions this summer after European airlines have warned of jet fuel shortages within weeks as a result of the Iran war.
An Israeli air strike has killed the son of Hamas' chief negotiator in U.S.-mediated talks over Gaza's future, a senior Hamas official said.
Azzam Al-Hayya, son of Khalil Al-Hayya, succumbed to his injuries on Thursday after being struck in an Israeli attack on Wednesday night, said senior Hamas official Basim Naim.
He is the fourth son of Hamas' exiled Gaza chief to have been killed in Israeli attacks.
The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment.
The Israeli military said Hezbollah launched several rockets towards Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon over the past few hours, though no casualties were reported.
Israel added that it struck 15 Hezbollah targets, including weapons storage facilities, in response.
The chief executive of logistics company Maersk said most of the company’s higher costs from rising bunker fuel prices will be passed on to customers as disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict continue to impact shipping.
He added that Maersk would assess a possible return to Red Sea routes if the situation in the Strait of Hormuz becomes more stable.
However, he stated that he does not expect more vessels to be escorted by the U.S. through the strait in the coming weeks.
French utility Engie said it remains committed to expanding its energy assets in the Middle East despite ongoing disruption from the Iran war.
Finance chief Pierre-François Riolacci said the company sees no need to revise its regional strategy, stressing that the Middle East remains part of its long-term development plans.
He added that the conflict has not changed Engie’s outlook or investment approach in the region.
China’s Foreign Ministry said it “firmly opposes” actions that escalate tensions in the region, commenting on reported attacks on an oil facility of United Arab Emirates.
Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and member of Iran’s Expediency Council, said Iran “will not negotiate the nuclear issue with anyone”.
He stated that control of the Strait of Hormuz must remain in Iranian hands, according to ISNA.
“If control and management of the Strait of Hormuz pass out of Iran’s hands, the enemy will once again weaponise it against Iran and its people,” Rezaei warned.
“The Iranian model emphasises that the region must provide its own security; foreign forces, whether American or European, must leave,” he added.
Iran’s embassy rejected allegations of involvement in damage to a Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, firmly denying responsibility and saying Tehran remains committed to maritime safety under international law.
It said the waterway is part of Iran’s “defensive geography” amid ongoing tensions with the U.S. and Israel, and argued that navigation conditions have changed due to heightened security risks.
The embassy added that safe passage requires compliance with Iranian regulations, adherence to warnings, and coordination with relevant authorities, warning that disregard for these conditions could lead to unintended incidents.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that the cause of the explosion and fire aboard a South Korean-operated vessel in the Strait of Hormuz will only be determined once the ship is brought to port for inspection.
The statement follows comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, who had earlier claimed on social media that Iran fired on the cargo ship.
Asian markets rallied strongly on Thursday, with stocks hitting record highs as investors welcomed signs of progress towards a possible peace deal in the Middle East, even as the fate of the Strait of Hormuz remained uncertain.
Japan’s Nikkei surged past 62,000 for the first time after a holiday break, while South Korean and Taiwanese shares also reached new highs, helping lift a key Asia‑Pacific index to another record.
The U.S. dollar weakened and oil prices extended sharp losses after a near‑8% slide a day earlier, though crude remains far above pre‑war levels. Analysts cautioned that markets could quickly reverse if talks falter, noting ongoing risks from elevated energy prices, inflation pressures and fragile supply chains.
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported heavy Israeli artillery shelling at dawn targeting the Ayta al-Shab and Ramyeh axis, accompanied by machine-gun fire on the outskirts of both towns.
In a separate incident, an overnight Israeli strike on Joya left one person injured. Lebanese Civil Defense teams transferred the casualty to a hospital in Tyre, according to NNA.
South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said the government will extend its ban on hoarding petroleum products for another two months, as fuel supply concerns persist amid disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict.
The temporary restriction, first introduced in March to curb stockpiling and unfair trading practices, was due to expire next week, according to media.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington had “very good talks” with Iran over the past 24 hours and that a deal between the two sides was possible.
"They want to make a deal. We've had very good talks over the last 24 hours, and it's very possible that we'll make a deal," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
Trump later predicted the war would “be over quickly”, saying U.S. actions were aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon while negotiations continue over tensions linked to the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran’s nuclear programme.
A Pakistani source and another source briefed on the mediation said an agreement was close on a one-page memorandum that would formally end the conflict - that would kick off discussions to unblock shipping through the strait, lift U.S. sanctions on Iran and set curbs on Iran's nuclear programme, the sources said.
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The U.S. and Iran exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz, though both sides signalled they did not want escalation. The clashes come as Washington awaits Tehran’s response to a proposed deal to end the war while leaving key disputes, such as Iran’s nuclear programme, unresolved for now.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health says it is working with UNICEF to improve healthcare access in remote areas, focusing on vaccination, maternal and child health, nutrition and emergency services.
Indonesian rescue teams are searching for 20 hikers trapped on Mount Dukono after a major volcanic eruption sent ash 10 kilometres into the sky on Friday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to hold negotiations with “everyone,” including European leaders, the Kremlin said on Friday, after reports that the European Union is considering possible talks with Moscow.
The U.S military said it carried out retaliatory strikes on Iran on Thursday (7 May). Meanwhile, Iran's Joint Military Command accused the U.S. of breaching the ceasefire, by striking an Iranian oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and launching attacks on several Iranian cities.
Argentinian authorities are reconstructing the journeys of Dutch citizens who presented with symptoms of deadly hantavirus after visiting Argentina and Chile as part of a luxury cruise trip, the country's Health Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday (6 May)
Latvian authorities said two drones entered NATO member Latvia from Russian territory and crashed on Thursday morning, with officials linking them to Ukraine’s wider drone operations against targets in Russia.
The U.S. and Iran exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz, though both sides signalled they did not want escalation. The clashes come as Washington awaits Tehran’s response to a proposed deal to end the war while leaving key disputes, such as Iran’s nuclear programme, unresolved for now.
Singapore has isolated and is testing two of its residents who travelled aboard a cruise ship linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak, the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said on Thursday.
The U.S. and Iran exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz, though both sides signalled they did not want escalation. The clashes come as Washington awaits Tehran’s response to a proposed deal to end the war while leaving key disputes, such as Iran’s nuclear programme, unresolved for now.
Iran confirmed on Friday its Armed Forces responded to, what Tehran is calling, the U.S. Navy’s violation of the ceasefire. It said Iranian ships and civilian areas were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday evening.
U.S. ally the United Arab Emirates said its air defences were engaging missile and drone threats from Iran early on Friday in a further test of the shaky, month-long ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.
The U.S. military said it carried out retaliatory strikes against Iran on Thursday (7 May), as Iran’s military leadership accused Washington of violating a Pakistani-mediated ceasefire agreed to back in April.
As diplomatic talks over a possible U.S.–Iran framework agreement continue, analysts are assessing how any deal could alter security dynamics across the Middle East.
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