US Says Iran Ceasefire Still Active Despite Fresh Attacks Near Hormuz Strait and UAE

The United States has announced that the ceasefire agreement with Iran remains in effect despite fresh Iranian attacks targeting the Hormuz Strait region and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Although a ceasefire has technically been in place since April 8 for nearly a month, tensions have continued through Iran’s blockade around the Hormuz Strait and the ongoing US naval operations against Iran in the Gulf region.

In response to the worsening maritime crisis, the United States launched a military rescue initiative named “Project Freedom” on Monday to safely escort stranded ships through a newly designated sea route near Oman’s maritime border.

So far, only two American ships have successfully passed through the newly established route. Major global shipping companies continue to remain cautious due to Iranian threats, leaving hundreds of vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf.

Amid the US operation, Iran launched missile and drone attacks against the United Arab Emirates for a second consecutive day on Tuesday. UAE air defense systems reportedly intercepted and destroyed 15 missiles and four drones launched by Iran.

However, one drone reportedly crashed into an oil facility in Fujairah, injuring three Indian workers employed at the site.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attacks, stating that assaults targeting innocent civilians and public infrastructure can never be accepted. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, both acting as mediators in the conflict, also criticized the strikes.

Speaking to reporters in Washington, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine said Iran’s actions had not yet escalated into a full-scale war and therefore the ceasefire could not be considered broken. They also revealed that more than 100 US fighter jets are currently patrolling the airspace surrounding the Hormuz Strait.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the United States of violating the ceasefire through its recent military operations.

In a statement, Ghalibaf warned that Iran had not yet begun its real retaliation and claimed the country could no longer tolerate American actions in the region. Iranian officials also alleged that five civilians were killed after US forces attacked civilian boats.

Former US President Donald Trump mocked Iran’s position, saying the country should now “wave the white flag,” but added that Iranian pride was preventing surrender.

Trump further claimed that Iran’s military had been reduced to using small arms and insisted that despite public threats, Iranian leaders were secretly eager to negotiate with the United States. He also described the American naval blockade around Iranian ports as an “iron shield” that could not be broken.