Trump: US Attack on Iran a "Loving Touch"
Tensions between the United States (US) and Iran have heated up again after the two countries engaged in mutual attacks near the Strait of Hormuz. This situation has sparked concerns over the outbreak of war in the Middle East region, particularly because the route is a vital pathway for global oil trade.
US President Donald Trump even described Washington’s latest attack on Iran as a “loving touch”. In a telephone conversation with ABC News, Trump affirmed that the ceasefire that began on 7 April remains in effect despite the renewed clashes.
“This is just a loving touch,” said Trump, quoted on Friday (8/5/2026).
However, in a follow-up post on Truth Social, Trump issued strong threats to Tehran. He warned that the US would strike Iran “much harder and much more brutally” if it does not promptly agree to a deal with Washington.
The US military, through the US Central Command (CENTCOM), claimed the attack was carried out in self-defence after their warships came under fire from Iran. CENTCOM stated that Iran launched missiles, drones, and small boats at three US warships—the USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason—in the area around the Strait of Hormuz.
In response, the US claimed to have struck several strategic Iranian targets, including missile launch sites, command and control centres, and military surveillance facilities. A senior US official told Fox News that Washington’s strikes also targeted the ports of Qeshm and Bandar Abbas, as well as the Bandar Kargan naval checkpoint in Minab.
On the other hand, Iran accused Washington of being the first to violate the ceasefire by attacking an Iranian oil tanker in its own territorial waters. Iran’s Central Headquarters at Hazrat Khatam al-Anbiya accused the US of coordinating with “several regional countries” to attack civilian areas around Bandar Khamir, Sirik, and Qeshm Island.
“The aggressive American forces have violated the ceasefire,” stated the Iranian authorities, as quoted by state media.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC) also claimed that the three US warships fled the Strait of Hormuz. It was further stated that they “fled” at high speed after sustaining “significant damage”.
Meanwhile, the situation in Iran’s capital has also been reported as heating up. Iranian state media reported that air defence systems in western Tehran have been activated to counter “enemy targets”. Reports from journalists in Tehran mentioned increased air defence activity and flashes of light in the skies over the capital.