US fires on tankers as Iran accuses Washington of 'reckless' attacks

The United States said it had fired on two Iranian-flagged oil tankers Friday, as Iran’s foreign minister accused Washington of “a reckless military adventure” and of undermining diplomatic efforts to end the war.

U.S. Central Command said it had disabled the two tankers as they tried to reach an Iranian port. The latest strikes came a day after the U.S. military and Iran exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz -- fighting that the Iranian military said was triggered by an earlier U.S. attack on another Iranian tanker.

They also came as Iranian officials have said the United States and Iran are debating a one-page U.S. proposal for the sides to reopen the strait and cease hostilities for 30 days as they negotiate a comprehensive deal to end the war.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asked about the state of negotiations, said the United States expected a “response” from Iran on Friday. And despite the exchanges of fire in recent days, both President Donald Trump and Iran’s Foreign Ministry have insisted that their monthlong ceasefire was holding.

Trump, speaking to reporters in Washington on Thursday evening, dismissed the day’s exchange of attacks as a “trifle” and again warned that Iran “better sign their agreement fast,” an apparent reference to the one-page U.S. proposal.

On Friday, the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, questioned in a social media post whether the U.S. strikes were a “crude pressure tactic.” He added: “Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the U.S. opts for a reckless military adventure.”

A key hurdle to any agreement was the U.S. demand for advance commitments on the fate of Iran’s nuclear program and its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, three senior Iranian officials said. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive diplomacy.

Here’s what else we’re covering:

-- Sanctions: The United States on Friday announced a flurry of new sanctions intended to increase pressure on Iran’s economy, targeting people and companies in China that have been helping the Iranian military.

-- Oil slick: Satellite images show a large oil slick spreading off Kharg Island, Iran’s primary crude oil export terminal. The apparent spill had spread over an area of more than 20 square miles as of Thursday.

-- Markets: Oil prices and global stocks inched upward on Friday afternoon as investors weighed conflicting signals about the status of the conflict in the Persian Gulf.

-- Lebanon: Fighting intensified between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group, fraying an already fragile ceasefire between them. Israel carried out airstrikes in southern Lebanon, killing at least four people, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said. The Israeli military later said that some rockets had been launched into northern Israel but reported no casualties.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

Copyright 2026 The New York Times Company

This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 9:59 AM.