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THE fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran came under renewed strain early on Friday after the United Arab Emirates said its air defence systems intercepted missile and drone threats launched from Iran, marking the latest escalation in a conflict that continues to destabilise the Gulf region and global energy markets.
Reuters reported that the incident unfolded just one day after U.S. and Iranian forces exchanged fire near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important energy corridors, as Washington awaited Tehran’s response to a proposed framework aimed at formally ending the war.
The UAE, a longstanding American ally hosting U.S. military facilities, has repeatedly come under threat since hostilities began on 28 February, with Iran targeting Gulf states viewed as aligned with Washington.
Details surrounding the latest attempted strike on the UAE remained limited, though regional tensions rose sharply following claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that three American Navy destroyers had come under attack while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
“Three World Class American Destroyers just transited, very successfully, out of the Strait of Hormuz, under fire. There was no damage done to the three Destroyers, but great damage done to the Iranian attackers,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, and shipping disruptions since the outbreak of war have rattled international energy markets.
Speaking later in Washington, Trump sought to downplay fears that the ceasefire had collapsed entirely.
“They trifled with us today. We blew them away,” he told reporters, while insisting diplomatic negotiations with Tehran were continuing.
Iran’s top joint military command accused the United States of violating the ceasefire by attacking an Iranian oil tanker and another vessel, as well as conducting air strikes on civilian areas around Qeshm Island and the nearby mainland coastal districts of Bandar Khamir and Sirik.
Iranian military officials said their forces responded by targeting U.S. naval assets east of the Strait of Hormuz and south of the port city of Chabahar.
A spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters claimed the retaliatory strikes caused “significant damage”, although the U.S. Central Command denied any American assets had been hit.
Iranian state-linked broadcaster Press TV later reported that calm had returned to Iranian islands and coastal settlements near the Strait of Hormuz after several hours of military activity.
Despite the ceasefire agreement that took effect on 7 April, sporadic exchanges of fire have continued between both sides, including Iranian attacks on Gulf targets linked to the United States.
The renewed confrontation immediately reverberated through global energy markets, with Brent crude prices climbing above US$100 per barrel during early Asian trading on Friday amid fears of prolonged supply disruptions.
Industry estimates indicate that at least 20 oil refineries across the Middle East have either been struck directly or forced into precautionary shutdowns due to drone attacks since the conflict began, removing more than 2.3 million barrels per day of refining capacity from the market by mid-April.
Trump nevertheless signalled that diplomatic engagement with Tehran remained active despite the latest hostilities.
“We’re negotiating with the Iranians,” he said.
According to U.S. officials, Washington has proposed a framework that could formally end the conflict, although the plan reportedly does not fully address longstanding American demands for Iran to halt its nuclear activities and reopen maritime access through the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran has yet to formally accept the proposal.
Even so, Trump claimed Iran had effectively acknowledged Washington’s core demand that it must never acquire nuclear weapons.
“There’s zero chance. And they know that, and they’ve agreed to that. Let’s see if they are willing to sign it,” he said.
Asked when a final agreement might be reached, Trump replied: “It might not happen, but it could happen any day. I believe they want to deal more than I do.”
The ongoing war has increasingly tested Trump’s standing among his domestic political supporters, particularly after he campaigned on promises to avoid new foreign wars and lower fuel prices for American consumers.
According to figures from the American Automobile Association, average U.S. petrol prices have risen by more than 40 per cent since late February, increasing by approximately US$1.20 per gallon to above US$4, largely driven by mounting disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. -May 8, 2026
