US Official: Strikes on Iran Do Not Restart War or End Ceasefire
WASHINGTON — A senior U.S. official confirmed Thursday that American military strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Port and Bandar Abbas were ‘self-defense’ actions that do not mark a restart of the two-month war or an end to the fragile ceasefire .
The official’s statement came as Iranian state media reported explosions in the strategic port city of Bandar Abbas and on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, and as Tehran claimed it had launched retaliatory missiles at U.S. warships .
“The United States has no intention of restarting the war. The ceasefire is not over. This was a defensive action after unprovoked Iranian attacks on our ships.”
— Senior U.S. official, speaking to FOX News
🔥 An ‘Exchange of Fire’ in the Strait of Hormuz
Thursday’s escalation began when U.S. Navy destroyers — the USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason — were transiting the Strait of Hormuz . According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Iranian forces launched “multiple missiles, drones and small boats” at the American warships .
The U.S. military responded with what it described as “self-defense strikes” against Iranian military infrastructure, including missile and drone launch sites, command and control nodes, and surveillance locations . Unspecified “small boats” that posed a threat to commercial shipping were also destroyed .
During the same engagement, U.S. forces reportedly struck the Bahman Quarantine Dock on Qeshm Island and the port of Bandar Abbas [citation:3]. An Iranian military spokesperson confirmed an “exchange of fire with enemy units” but claimed U.S. warplanes had hit “civilian areas” [citation:2]. At least two “hostile drones” were shot down by Iranian air defense systems .
🛑 ‘Project Freedom’: Paused and Then Restarted
The strikes occurred just days after President Donald Trump announced and then abruptly paused “Project Freedom,” a major military operation to break Iran’s blockade of the strait and free hundreds of stranded commercial ships .
The operation has now apparently resumed. The Pentagon confirmed that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have lifted restrictions on U.S. military use of their bases and airspace, clearing the way for American warplanes to escort merchant vessels through the waterway [citation:6][citation:7]. The US is also repositioning KC-135 aerial refueling tankers to the region .
🇮🇷 Iran Vows ‘Crushing Response’
Iranian state media confirmed multiple explosions and reported that air defense systems were activated . The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it launched missiles at U.S. destroyers in retaliation for the strikes on Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas .
A spokesperson for the Iranian armed forces vowed a “crushing response” to any further U.S. aggression :
“The criminal and aggressive America and its supporting countries should know that the Islamic Republic of Iran, as powerful as in the past, will give a crushing response to any aggression without the slightest hesitation.”
— Spokesperson, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters
Iranian media also alleged that U.S. strikes hit civilian infrastructure, an accusation the Pentagon has denied . Tehran has formally accused Washington of violating the April 8 ceasefire [citation:2][citation:6].
⚖️ ‘The Ceasefire Is Not Over’
The U.S. official’s insistence that the ceasefire remains in effect is critical . On Monday, the Pentagon disclosed that while Iran has attacked U.S. forces more than 10 times since the truce, no American servicemembers had been killed or seriously wounded—a key factor in the administration’s determination that the ceasefire was not yet broken .
The threshold could now be crossed. Direct U.S. strikes on Qeshm Island, a major population center with approximately 150,000 residents, and Bandar Abbas, home to a critical naval base, are a significant escalation [citation:4]. Iranian missile fire aimed at U.S. warships is also a major step up.
As of Thursday night, no U.S. casualties had been reported . However, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil supply normally passes, remains highly volatile [citation:5].
📋 Key Takeaways for Reflecto News Readers
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| U.S. Strikes | “Self-defense” strikes on Qeshm Port and Bandar Abbas after Iranian attacks on US warships . |
| US Official’s Statement | The strikes do not restart the war or end the ceasefire; they were a “defensive action” . |
| Conflict Drivers | US Navy destroyers were attacked by Iranian missiles, drones, and small boats . |
| Iran’s Response | IRGC claims it launched retaliatory missiles; vows a “crushing response” to further US action . |
| Ceasefire Status | Officially still in place but under severe strain . |
| Oil Prices | Brent crude rose to $102.70 after the reports . |
| Project Freedom | Paused, then resumed after Saudi/Kuwait lifted restrictions . |
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