Will hit Iran harder, more violently if there's no peace deal: Trump on Hormuz clash

US President Donald Trump claimed three American destroyers were attacked while crossing the Strait of Hormuz, warning Iran that the US would hit back "a lot harder" if it failed to sign a deal quickly.

In Short

• Trump said missiles, drones and boats targeted US destroyers during transit
• He claimed American warships crossed successfully without sustaining any damage
• Missiles were intercepted and drones were incinerated mid-air, Trump asserted

US President Donald Trump on Thursday claimed that three American destroyers came under attack while transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, and warned that Washington would respond “a lot harder, and a lot more violently” in the future if Iran did not fall in line on signing a peace deal.

The escalation came barely a day after Trump expressed satisfaction over “very good talks” held with Iran over the past 24 hours. But within the next day, tensions appeared to spiral again as both countries clashed in the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran accusing Washington of violating the ceasefire, while the US said its forces fired in retaliation. The clash at sea came as Iran said it was considering a short-term deal to end the war.

In a fiery statement on Thursday, Trump said the destroyers had passed through the strategic waterway “very successfully” despite missile, drone and small-boat attacks allegedly launched by Iran. According to him, there was “no damage” to the American warships, while the Iranian attackers were “completely destroyed”.

“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!” Trump wrote, while accusing Iran’s leadership of being “lunatics” who would use a nuclear weapon “without question” if given the chance.

Trump further claimed that missiles fired at the destroyers were intercepted, drones were “incinerated while in the air,” and several Iranian attack boats sank during the confrontation. He said the three destroyers would now rejoin what he described as a US naval blockade -- a “Wall of Steel”.

However, Trump downplayed the clash to an ABC reporter, saying it was just a “love tap,” while maintaining that the ceasefire with Iran is still in effect.

After a period of uneasy calm during the fragile ceasefire, Tehran was once again rocked by reports of explosions, while the sound of air defence systems being activated alerted residents across the city.

In the southern parts of the country, a nearby maritime base in Minab reportedly came under attack, its governor told Al Jazeera. The port city of Bandar Abbas also witnessed several explosions.

While the US Central Command in Florida maintained that it was an act of self-defence, Iran said the US attacked two Iranian ships -- an oil tanker and another vessel -- in violation of the ceasefire. The IRGC naval forces said they targeted US destroyers in response.

- Ends