The US military said it intercepted attacks on three Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday and responded with self-defence strikes.
"Iranian forces launched multiple missiles, drones and small boats" at the three warships as they transited the waterway, claiming none were hit, the US military's Central Command wrote in a post on X.
US forces "eliminated inbound threats and targeted Iranian military facilities responsible" for the attack, it wrote, adding that the military does not "seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces".
US President Donald Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that the military greatly damaged the "Iranian attackers," which he said were now at "the bottom of the sea".
Despite the exchange of fire, Trump said the ceasefire was still holding, but threatened further action if Tehran does not sign a deal.
"The talks are going very well, but they have to understand if it doesn't get signed, they're going to have a lot of pain," Trump told reporters in Washington.
Iranian military fired missiles at "enemy units" in the Strait of Hormuz, after what it described as an attack on an Iranian tanker, Tehran state-run media said.
"Following the attack by the US military on an Iranian tanker, the enemy units in the Strait of Hormuz came under Iranian missile fire and were forced to flee after suffering damage," Iranian state-run broadcaster IRIB reported, citing an unnamed military officer.
Explosions were initially reported on Qeshm Island and the city of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran, both near the Strait of Hormuz.
The IRGC-affiliated Fars news agency said Tehran's units exchanged fire with the enemy attacking the Bahman pier on Qeshm.
State-run Mizan agency said the explosions heard on the island were the result of air defences intercepting what Iranian media described as "hostile" drones.
According to Iranian media, two drones were also shot down above Bandar Abbas. Air defences were also activated above Tehran to "counter hostile targets," according to reports.
No more details were reported and there was no immediate confirmation from the US. Euronews could not independently verify these claims.
Qeshm is the largest Iranian island in the Persian Gulf, home to about 150,000 people and housing a water desalination plant.
Before the Iran war's outbreak on 28 February, a fifth of the world's total petroleum and gas passed through the Strait of Hormuz. The closure has led to a significant global surge in their prices.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump announced a naval operation to escort the trapped ships and force the Hormuz to open, but called off the push shortly after.
Washington is now awaiting an Iranian response to proposals to end the war and reopen the strait.
