US President Donald Trump warned that the U.S. will knock Iran a lot harder and more violently after U.S. forces intercepted Iranian attacks on three American destroyers as they exited the Strait of Hormuz.
In a social media post, Mr Trump said three American destroyers passed safely through the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian attack.
He claimed missiles and drones were fired at the ships but were destroyed by U.S. defenses, causing heavy damage to Iranian forces.
The U.S. military has carried out strikes on Iranian military facilities after responding to attacks on navy ships. Washington said it does not want the conflict to grow but is ready to defend its forces.
Earlier, Iran attacked three U.S. Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz, but American forces intercepted the attacks and no ships were damaged.
Iranian state media also reported loud noises and defensive fire in western Tehran. In southern Iran, explosions were heard near Bandar Abbas.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that the United States initiated the confrontation by carrying out what it described as aggression against an Iranian oil tanker and another vessel.
According to the IRGC, it responded to these actions with missile and drone attacks targeting US ships. The latest outbreak of fighting follows tensions between Washington and its Gulf Arab allies.
The ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, in place since April 8, remains fragile. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump paused a U.S. military plan to secure safe passage for ships through the strait, hoping to give diplomacy more time.
Saudi Arabia also reportedly refused to support reopening the route by force.