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Live Updates: Trump says ceasefire still in effect as Iran calls Strait of Hormuz attacks "point of no return"

What to know about the Iran war today:

  • The U.S. military said three warships came under "unprovoked attack" Thursday as they transited the Strait of Hormuz, with Iranian forces launching missiles, drones and small assault boats. U.S. officials said all the threats were eliminated, and U.S. forces launched "self-defense strikes" on Iranian ports abutting the strait.
  • Iran has claimed the U.S. shot first, targeting Iranian ships near the strait and "civilian areas" on shore, and that it fired at the U.S. warships in response. Senior Iranian military officials said the U.S. "crossed the point of no return" with the attacks and they vowed to respond.
  • President Trump said despite the escalating hostilities, the U.S.-Iran ceasefire is "still in effect," but he warned the U.S. would "knock them out a lot harder, and a lot more violently" if Tehran doesn't accept a peace deal. 
 

Trump yet to decide on response to allies' denial of military base use for Iran war, Rubio says

President Trump has not yet decided how to respond to some U.S. allies denying use of their military bases for operations in the Iran war, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday.

"If one of the main reasons why the U.S. is in NATO is the ability to have forces deployed in Europe that we could project to other contingencies, and now that's no longer the case, at least when it comes to some NATO members, that's a problem, and it has to be examined," he told reporters during a visit to Rome, adding that Mr. Trump "hasn't made those decisions yet."

The president has grown increasingly frustrated with U.S. allies in Europe that have sought to avoid involvement in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

So far, the only NATO member to flatly refuse any role in support of the ongoing U.S. military operations in the Middle East is Spain, while several other nations have granted use of bases, but not for offensive operations.

Last week, the Pentagon announced the U.S. would withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said "the Americans clearly have no strategy" on Iran, and argued the U.S. was being "humiliated" by Iranian negotiators.

Mr Trump has threatened to leave NATO, calling the alliance a "paper tiger" for not joining the war. A 2023 law prevents the president from withdrawing the U.S. from the defensive alliance without approval from Congress.

CBS/AFP

 

Iran says it seized an oil tanker that appears to be part of its own shadow fleet

Iran's military claimed Friday that it had seized an oil tanker named the Ocean Koi in the Sea of Oman, saying the ship had attempted to "disrupt" Iranian oil exports. Iranian state TV aired a video showing what it said were naval commandos approaching the vessel at night and boarding it using ladders. 

The forces then "escorted the vessel to southern Iranian waters and handed it over to judicial authorities," according to the report, which said the crude oil tanker was "reportedly attempting… to damage and disrupt Iran's oil exports and national interests." 

Tracking data from the MarineTraffic website showed the Ocean Koi off the coast of Oman for weeks, and its location broadcasting device showed it had come from an Iraqi port. 

Ships can "spoof" their locations, and vessels have done so recently to hide visits to Iranian ports amid the ongoing U.S. naval blockade, but MarineTraffic data show the Ocean Koi has no oil on board, which raises questions about the Iranian military's motives for the interception.

Even more unusual, the ship has been subject to U.S. sanctions under a previous name since February, labeled part of Iran's shadow fleet — vessels that transport Iranian oil and petroleum products in defiance of sanctions.

The Iranian military did not say how exactly the vessel, which has since changed its name to Jin Li, was disrupting its oil exports.

The U.K. military's Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO), which reports threats to vessels in the area, told CBS News on Friday that it had received no reports from a ship under the name Ocean Koi or Jin Li.

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Israeli Army tells residents of more southern Lebanon villages to evacuate ahead of attacks

The Israeli military told people living in seven villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate their homes on Friday.

Israel Defense Forces spokesman Avichay Adraee issued an "urgent warning" to people in Al-Namriyah, Tayr Filisiya, Hallusiyah, Upper Hallusiyah, Turah, Marakah and Al-Abbayiyya, saying if they didn't leave, their lives would be in danger.

Adraee, who has issued similar evacuation orders almost daily since Hezbollah and Israel started exchanging fire two days after the Iran war began, said the IDF was "compelled" to act against Hezbollah in light of the group's "violation of the ceasefire agreement" brokered by the U.S. 

That truce was signed between the Israeli and Lebanese governments. Hezbollah was not a party to it, and it quickly accused Israel of violating the deal and said it was launching attacks in response. That exchange of fire, with both Hezbollah and Israel accusing the other side of breaching the ceasefire, has continued since the truce came into force.

Hezbollah said Friday it had attacked an Israeli military bulldozer, tank and troops.

The IDF acknowledged several Hezbollah strikes against its forces and said one soldier was severely wounded, and two others moderately wounded.

Lebanon's Health Ministry said earlier this week that the death toll from Israel's attacks since March 2 had risen to more than 2,700 people. More than 1 million people have been displaced from their homes by the fighting. 

In Israel, more than 40 people have been killed by Iranian and Hezbollah attacks since the U.S. and Israel launched their joint war with Iran on Feb. 28. 

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Israel says 4 people arrested for spying for Iran when they were minors

Israel has arrested four people accused of spying for Iran when they were minors, the country's military and main intelligence agency said in a joint statement Friday.

The Shin Bet intelligence service, Israeli police and Israel Defense Forces Israel said the civilian and three soldiers were suspected of "having long-term contacts with Iranian intelligence elements and carrying out missions under their direction."

These allegedly include documenting various sites around Israel, including train stations, shopping centers, security cameras and "records of the Air Force Technical School where some of the suspects studied."

"In addition, some of the defendants approached the operator on their own initiative to carry out security missions," the statement continued.

The four were arrested in March. The three soldiers are suspected of carrying out the covert operations "before their recruitment to the IDF," according to the bulletin.

The four were about 17 when they committed the offenses, according to Israeli news outlet Ynet.

Twenty-five Israelis and foreign residents in Israel were indicted on charges of spying for Iran in 2025, according to Shin Bet's annual report, published in February. It said recruitment attempts on Israelis had increased by 400% compared to 2024.

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Lebanon says Israeli strike kills rescuer in south

An Israeli strike in southern Lebanon killed a member of Lebanon's civil defense volunteer rescue organization, the group said Friday, a day after another strike killed a first responder with the Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Committee.

In a statement, the civil defense said its member was killed, "as a result of an Israeli strike that targeted him" on a road between two southern towns.

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday that the U.N. agency had "verified 152 attacks on healthcare that resulted in 103 deaths and 241 injuries" in Lebanon since the war began on March 2.

A ceasefire between the Lebanese and Israeli governments, brokered by the Trump administration, remains ostensibly in effect, but it has not stopped fighting between Israeli forces and Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

CBS/AFP

 

Iran says U.S. has "crossed the point of no return" after exchange of fire in Strait of Hormuz

Iranian officials say the U.S. has "crossed the point of no return," blasting American strikes on ports in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday as a violation of the ceasefire that President Trump insists is still in effect.

In a statement released Thursday night, Iran's central military command, the Khatam Al-Anbiya headquarters, claimed the U.S. targeted an Iranian oil tanker and another vessel near the strait, prompting Iranian forces to return fire on U.S. warships.

"In a simultaneous attack" the U.S. launched air raids "targeting civilian areas" in cooperation with regional allies on ports in Khamir, Sirik as well as Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. officials, including President Trump, said Iran fired first at three U.S. Navy destroyers transiting the strait on Thursday, prompting "self-defense strikes" against military assets at Iranian ports.

Iran claimed its attacks on the ships caused "severe and substantial damage," though President Trump said none were damaged in the exchange of fire. 

Brigadier General Ebrahim Zulfuqari, a spokesman for the Al-Anbiya headquarters, said in a social media post Thursday that the U.S. had "crossed the point of no return, and the response will be commensurate with the crime and more."

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UAE says air defense systems activated over Iranian missile attack

The United Arab Emirates reported early Friday morning local time that its air defense systems had been activated to respond to drones and missiles launched by Iran.

The UAE's defense ministry said in a social media post that "sounds heard in various parts of the country are the result of the UAE air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones."

The UAE's National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority cautioned residents to "remain in a safe place and follow the warnings and updates on official websites."

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Trump says Iran deal "might not happen" but "could happen any day"

President Trump told reporters late Thursday that a deal with Iran "might not happen, but it could happen any day."

"I believe they want the deal more than I do," he said during a visit to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, where his administration is installing blue filament as part of a renovation project.

Mr. Trump also addressed Iran's attacks on three U.S. Navy destroyers, which drew an American counterattack.

centcom-us-destroyers-iran.jpg
An image shared by U.S. Central Command shows the USS Mason guided missile destroyer operating in the Mideast. CENTCOM said the Mason was one of three U.S. warships targeted by Iranian missiles and other weapons during a transit of the Strait of Hormuz on May 7, 2026, but that none of the vessels was struck.  CENTCOM/Handout

"They trifled with us today. We blew them away," he said. "They should not have done that today."

Mr. Trump reiterated that the ceasefire is not over, in spite of Tuesday's exchange. 

"If there's no ceasefire, you're not going to have to know. You're just going to have to look at one big glow coming out of Iran," he said.

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Trump says Iran sustained "great damage" after attacking U.S. warships

President Trump confirmed that three American destroyers passed through the Strait of Hormuz after dodging an Iranian onslaught — and warned Iran that it needs to strike a deal with the U.S. quickly.

Mr. Trump said in a social media post that the U.S. vessels were unharmed while Iran faced "great damage," describing the military's efforts to deflect Iranian boats, missiles and drones in vivid terms.

"They dropped ever so beautifully down to the Ocean, very much like a butterfly dropping to its grave!" he said of the U.S.'s response to the drone attacks.

"A normal Country would have allowed these Destroyers to pass, but Iran is not a normal Country. They are led by LUNATICS, and if they had the chance to use a Nuclear Weapon, they would do it, without question," the president wrote.

He also warned that "we'll knock them out a lot harder, and a lot more violently, in the future, if they don't get their Deal signed, FAST!" Mr. Trump is seeking a longer-term peace deal with Iran, but the status of talks is unclear.

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U.S. launches "self-defense strikes," U.S. Central Command says

American forces "responded with self-defense strikes" on Iranian targets after three Navy destroyers came under missile and drone fire, but were not struck, U.S. Central Command said Thursday.

The destroyers USS Truxtun, USS Mason and USS Rafael Peralta were attacked by missiles, drones and small boats, CENTCOM said. The U.S. military responded by targeting Iranian facilities, including drone and missile launch sites.

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U.S. destroyers face second round of Iranian attacks

Three U.S. Navy destroyers transiting the Strait of Hormuz came under renewed attack on Thursday, enduring what American officials described as a fiercer and more sustained Iranian assault than the barrage the warships faced only days earlier. 

The destroyers came under an intense Iranian assault as swarms of Iranian fast-attack boats maneuvered close enough that American warships opened fire to keep them at bay, the U.S. officials told CBS News under condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. 

Iranian forces also launched drones and missiles during the confrontation, the officials said. 

Over several hours, the American warships and supporting aircraft mounted a layered defense. 

Despite the intensity of the attacks, neither U.S. vessel was struck. 

Read more here.

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Trump calls strikes on Iranian ports a "love tap," says ceasefire still "in effect"

President Trump told ABC News Thursday that the U.S.-Iran ceasefire remains in effect despite American strikes on two Iranian ports, describing the strikes as "just a love tap."

Mr. Trump spoke on the phone with ABC News senior political correspondent Rachel Scott.

When she asked if it means the ceasefire is over, she says he replied, "No, no, the ceasefire is going. It's in effect."

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