Trump Says Ceasefire with Iran Is Still in Effect Despite US Attacks
Reflecto News | Breaking News | Iran-US Conflict
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump declared on Thursday evening that the fragile two‑month ceasefire with Iran remains in effect, even as the United States military carried out major strikes on the Iranian coastal ports of Qeshm and Bandar Abbas and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it had launched intense missile attacks on American warships .
In an interview with ABC News, Trump refused to characterize the day’s events as the end of the April 8 truce, which has largely halted direct exchanges of fire between U.S. and Iranian forces, even as both sides continue to trade tit‑for‑tat blows .
“The ceasefire is still in effect. It is holding.”
— President Donald J. Trump, in an interview with ABC News
🎯 ‘Just a Love Tap’
Trump minimized the scale of the U.S. military action, describing it as a limited response to “unprovoked Iranian attacks” on American vessels in and around the strategic Strait of Hormuz .
The president insisted that the ceasefire would continue “unless something happens,” leaving the door open for escalation if Iran carries out further strikes on U.S. assets .
🚢 What Happened on Thursday
A senior U.S. official confirmed to FOX News that American forces conducted targeted strikes on Qeshm Port and the port city of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran . The official described the operation as a “self‑defense” response to Iranian missile and drone launches that targeted three U.S. Navy destroyers earlier in the day .
Timeline of events (May 7):
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| US Navy transit | USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason transited Strait of Hormuz |
| Iranian attack | IRGC launched “intense” missile and drone strikes on the destroyers |
| US response | US warplanes struck military targets at Qeshm Port and Bandar Abbas |
| US casualties | None reported |
| Ceasefire status | Trump: “It is still in effect. It is holding.” |
Iranian state media confirmed the explosions on Qeshm Island and in Bandar Abbas, with the IRGC claiming its forces had launched missiles in retaliation for what it called ceasefire violations by “American terrorists” .
🛑 ‘Project Freedom’ on Hold
The military escalation came just days after the White House announced the temporary pause of “Project Freedom,” the U.S. naval operation to escort commercial vessels through the blockaded Strait of Hormuz .
On Tuesday, May 5, Trump declared that the mission would be paused to allow for diplomatic progress on a final nuclear agreement with Iran . The operation was launched on Monday, May 4, before being paused less than 48 hours later .
The strikes on Qeshm Port and Bandar Abbas suggest that the U.S. is willing to use military force to enforce the naval blockade and pressure Tehran, even as the administration continues to publicly state that the ceasefire remains intact .
🇮🇷 Iran’s Position
The IRGC has not accepted Trump’s declaration that the ceasefire is “still in effect.” In its own statement, the military force announced that it had retaliated for U.S. strikes on Qeshm and Bandar Abbas, vowing that “American terrorists will receive a decisive response for their violations” .
An Iranian military spokesperson also warned that any further U.S. aggression would be met with a “crushing response” .
⏳ ‘Unless Something Happens’
Trump’s “unless something happens” caveat leaves the administration ample room to escalate further if Tehran continues to target U.S. assets in the strait .
A senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the United States continues to review options and that “all options remain on the table, including the resumption of full combat operations.”
For now, the ceasefire is technically still in effect — but the events of May 7 have pushed both sides closer to a full‑scale resumption of hostilities .
📋 Key Takeaways for Reflecto News Readers
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| Trump’s Statement | “The ceasefire is still in effect. It is holding.” |
| US Military Action | “Self‑defense” strikes on Qeshm Port and Bandar Abbas |
| Iranian Response | IRGC claims it launched “intense” missile/drone attacks on US Navy destroyers |
| US Casualties | None reported |
| Ceasefire Status | Trump says still in effect; Iran disputes |
| Project Freedom | Paused (May 5) — not yet formally relaunched |
| Trump’s Warning | Ceasefire continues “unless something happens” |
| Risk Assessment | High — both sides engaged in direct fire; risk of uncontrolled escalation |
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