President Donald Trump characterized recent U.S. military strikes on Iran as a 'love tap' during an interview with ABC News on Thursday evening. The comment came hours after U.S. forces targeted Iranian military sites in response to attacks on American Navy ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. Central Command reported that Iranian forces launched missiles, drones, and small-boat attacks against the USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason earlier Thursday. All incoming threats were intercepted, and no U.S. assets were damaged, according to officials. In self-defense, American aircraft and ships struck Iranian missile and drone launch sites, command-and-control centers, surveillance nodes, the Qeshm port, Bandar Abbas port, and the Bandar Kargan naval checkpoint in Minab. Explosions were reported near Bandar Abbas, with additional strikes on coastal areas along Bandar Khamir, Sirik, and Qeshm Island.

Trump insisted the April 7 ceasefire remains in effect despite the exchanges. 'Just a love tap,' he told ABC, emphasizing that the actions were limited and not an escalation. Iranian officials accused the U.S. of violating the truce by striking an oil tanker in territorial waters and civilian areas, with the IRGC Navy claiming three American warships fled at high speed after sustaining damage. Tehran activated air defenses over western areas and vowed a 'powerful' response without hesitation.

The incident unfolds amid a fragile two-month-old truce following intense U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that began in late February. Those operations targeted military, government, and infrastructure sites, prompting a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping chokepoint. Indirect talks mediated through Pakistan have produced a proposed one-page, 14-point memorandum of understanding. It calls for Iran to pause nuclear enrichment, the U.S. to lift sanctions and release frozen funds, and both sides to ease controls on the strait over 30 days.

Trump has expressed optimism about a deal, posting on Truth Social that acceptance would end 'Epic Fury' operations and fully reopen the strait. He warned, however, that rejection would lead to bombing ' at a much higher level.' Iran is reviewing the proposal and plans to respond via mediators, with President Masoud Pezeshkian meeting top officials. Oil prices dipped on hopes of progress, though U.S. gas prices have risen 50% since the conflict intensified.

The U.S. maintains about 15,000 troops and 100 aircraft in the region as part of efforts to secure navigation. Gulf allies have urged UN action against Iran's strait restrictions, which include a new agency to vet and tax transiting vessels. Trump met with oil executives from Chevron and ExxonMobil amid the talks, signaling economic stakes in a resolution.