Iran accused the United States of escalating military tensions in the Gulf on Friday, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi describing recent US actions as a “reckless military adventure” despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war involving Iran, the US, and Israel.
The remarks came after renewed confrontations in and around the Strait of Hormuz, where both Washington and Tehran accused each other of launching attacks on vessels and military assets.
US President Donald Trump insisted the ceasefire remained intact and said negotiations were continuing, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington expected a response from Tehran later on Friday regarding US proposals aimed at ending the conflict.
US Central Command said American forces disabled two Iranian-flagged oil tankers attempting to enter an Iranian port in violation of what it called an ongoing US blockade.
According to the statement, US forces fired “precision munitions” into the vessels’ smokestacks to prevent them from docking.
Centcom also said more than 70 tankers were being prevented from entering or leaving Iranian ports.
The latest developments followed exchanges in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, with the US accusing Iran of launching missiles, drones, and small boats against three warships.
Iran’s military, meanwhile, accused the US of targeting an Iranian oil tanker and carrying out aerial attacks near the Strait.
Mohammad Radmehr, an official in Iran’s Hormozgan province, said a cargo vessel near Minab caught fire and that 10 injured sailors had been transferred to hospital.
Araghchi questioned whether the US actions were “a crude pressure tactic” or the result of “a spoiler once again duping POTUS into another quagmire”.
“Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the US opts for a reckless military adventure,” he wrote on X.
Iranian officials also signaled they would not compromise on control of the Strait of Hormuz or on Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpile as negotiations continue.
Foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei warned against what he called “vermin-like nocturnal scheming” and “roguish behavior” following the US strikes, while criticizing Trump’s comments describing earlier attacks as “a love tap”.
Trump said overnight that US forces had destroyed multiple Iranian boats, missiles, and drones, warning of stronger action if Iran did not agree to a deal quickly.