Donald Trump slams ‘lunatics’ in Iran as Middle East ceasefire on the brink | World | News

Iran’s leadership has been branded “lunatics” by Donald Trump after three US destroyers were targeted by missiles, drones and small boats in the Strait of Hormuz. The US military said the “unprovoked” attacks were successfully intercepted and none of the warships were hit. In response, strikes were carried out against the “Iranian military facilities responsible”, including launch sites and command and control centres.

US headquarters said it did not seek escalation but “remains positioned and ready to protect American forces”. Following the exchange, Mr Trump warned Tehran that the US would “knock them out a lot harder, and a lot more violently” if they did not sign a deal to end the conflict “fast”. Iranian state media said the country’s armed forces had exchanged fire with “the enemy” on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, while explosions were also reported elsewhere.

The latest confrontation underscores how the waterway has become a flashpoint for the shaky ceasefire in the two-month conflict.

Writing on his Truth Social platform, the US president said: “Three World Class American Destroyers just transited, very successfully, out of the Strait of Hormuz, under fire.

“There was no damage done to the three Destroyers, but great damage done to the Iranian attackers. They were completely destroyed along with numerous small boats, which are being used to take the place of their fully decapitated Navy.”

He added: “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 – But they’ll never have that opportunity and, just like we knocked them out again today, 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!”

It comes after the US proposed an interim plan aimed at ending the war, although it is understood to leave the most contentious issues unresolved, including Iran’s nuclear programme. Tehran has said it was reviewing the proposals.

Mr Trump told reporters in Washington that the ceasefire was holding despite the violence.

“They trifled with us today. We blew them away,” he said, before telling reporters: “They have to understand – if it (a deal) doesn’t get signed, they’re going to have a lot of pain.”

Asked how close a US deal with Iran was, Mr Trump said: “It could happen any day,” before adding, “and it might not happen”.

Pakistan, which has been mediating in the conflict, said it expected an agreement soon.

The country’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said Islamabad remained in “continuous contact with Iran and the United States, day and night, to stop the war and extend the ceasefire”.

Meanwhile, the US and its Gulf allies are seeking backing at the United Nations for a resolution condemning Iran’s stranglehold on the strait with the threat of sanctions. However, it faces being vetoed by Russia and China.

The sea route, which is a major supply line for oil and gas supplies, had been open prior to the US and Israel launching strikes against Iran at the end of February.

In retaliation, Tehran effectively closed the shipping lane, sparking a global energy crisis that has seen prices rocket.

This led the US to impose its own blockade of Iranian ports, leading to a stand-off.

The president said this week he paused a separate, short-lived naval mission to reopen the strait to shipping because of the “great progress” being made in the peace talks.

But it has since been reported Saudi Arabia opposed the operation and refused permission for US planes to use its bases and airspace.

Concerns over future freedom of navigation through the channel have been further fuelled after Iran has set up an agency to approve and tax vessels seeking to use it, according to a UK-headquartered shipping data firm.

Lloyd’s List Intelligence said the Persian Gulf Strait Authority was “positioning itself as the only valid authority to grant permission to ships transiting the strait”. The company said the agency had emailed it an application form for ships wanting passage.

In view of the current diplomatic moves, the creation of the body could be a way to ratchet up pressure and send a signal to Washington during the negotiations.

The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Defence said that the country’s air defences were “actively engaging” with a missile and drone attack early on Friday.

A statement on X read: “The UAE’s air defences are currently dealing with missile and drone attacks originating from Iran, and the Ministry of Defense confirms that the sounds heard in various parts of the country are the result of the UAE air defence systems intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.”