• The United States and Iran accused each other of violating the fragile ceasefire established in April
• Iran reportedly fired at four ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz without authorisation while the US forces intercepted five drones and stopped another launch from Bandar Abbas
• Oil prices climbed after renewed fears over instability in the Strait of Hormuz

The United States and Iran traded accusations on Thursday, May 28, over alleged violations of an ongoing ceasefire after fresh attacks rattled the fragile truce that has held since April.

The exchange marked the most serious escalation since the ceasefire began, three months after the Middle East conflict erupted following a wave of US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

The latest violence has intensified fears that negotiations aimed at ending the war could collapse, while Kuwait condemned what it described as a “dangerous escalation” after coming under attack.

Tensions also flared sharply on the Lebanese front as Israel expanded military operations in southern Lebanon and launched new strikes, including near Beirut.

According to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, Iranian forces opened fire on four vessels attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz without authorisation.

Iran has maintained a blockade on the strategic waterway since the war began on February 28.

US forces later said they intercepted five attack drones near the strait and stopped the launch of another drone from a ground control station in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran.

The strike on Bandar Abbas triggered a retaliatory response from Tehran. IRIB, quoting Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, said Iran targeted “the American airbase that served as the source of the attack”.

Although the Guards did not identify the location of the airbase, Kuwait confirmed that its air defence systems responded to incoming missiles and drones.

Kuwait’s foreign ministry condemned “the criminal Iranian attacks that targeted the territory of the State of Kuwait with missiles and drones, in a dangerous escalation”.

The US Central Command described the Iranian response as an “egregious ceasefire violation”.

Reacting to the strikes, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei insisted Iran would “take all necessary measures to defend its national sovereignty”, while also describing the US attacks as “violations” of the truce.

A US official told AFP that Washington’s actions had been “measured” and “intended to preserve the ceasefire”.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards later warned they would deliver a “firm response” if further attacks occurred.

The renewed confrontation highlighted growing uncertainty surrounding diplomatic efforts to formally end the conflict, although neither Washington nor Tehran appears willing to return to full-scale war.

Speaking from Tehran before the latest strikes, a 27-year-old software developer identified as Amir said many Iranians still feared the conflict could reignite at any moment despite ongoing negotiations.

“I feel like nothing is certain yet,” he said.

“The daily question is: Will there be missile strikes tonight?”

Strait of Hormuz tensions oil market

A major sticking point in negotiations remains the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route for oil and gas exports.

Oil prices rose again on Thursday, May 28, after news of the latest strikes emerged, reversing earlier declines driven by optimism surrounding a potential peace agreement.

The United States President, Donald Trump, also stirred controversy after rejecting a proposed temporary arrangement involving Oman and Iran overseeing access to the strait.

“No, the strait is going to be open to everybody,” Trump said.

“It’s international waters and Oman will behave just like everybody else or we’ll have to blow them up.”

Oman, which has played a key mediation role throughout the conflict, has also faced attacks from Tehran during the war.

Baqaei condemned Trump’s remarks, calling them “a worrying sign of the normalisation of anarchy and intimidation in international relations”.

Lebanon violence intensifies

Meanwhile, fighting in Lebanon continued to worsen despite a separate ceasefire arrangement between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.

The Israeli military announced on Thursday, May 28,  that it carried out a “precise strike” near Beirut, while Lebanese authorities confirmed that an apartment south of the capital was hit.

Footage from AFPTV showed smoke billowing from the area bordering Beirut’s southern suburbs, a known Hezbollah stronghold.

Israel also launched fresh strikes around the southern city of Tyre after warning residents to evacuate.

On Wednesday, May 27, the Israeli military declared all areas south of Lebanon’s Zahrani River as “combat zones” and urged civilians to leave the region.

Lebanese officials said Israeli attacks in the south killed at least 14 people on Thursday, May 28, including three children and a soldier.

According to Lebanon’s health ministry, the overall death toll since the war began has climbed to 3,269.

The conflict was triggered after Hezbollah launched missiles towards Israel following the killing of Iran’s supreme leader.

Israel also confirmed that one of its soldiers was killed on Wednesday in a Hezbollah drone attack near the Lebanese border.

So far, 23 Israeli troops and one civilian contractor have died in the conflict.

Iran has maintained that any agreement to end the broader war must also include Lebanon.

Trump sparks outrage after resharing ‘Strait of Trump’ map for Strait of Hormuz

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the United States President Donald Trump had triggered fresh controversy after resharing a Truth Social post proposing that the Strait of Hormuz be renamed the “Strait of Trump,” a move widely seen as provocative amid mounting geopolitical tensions.

The post featured a map of the strategically critical waterway relabeled with the suggested name, drawing swift global attention because of the Strait’s central role in global energy security.