U.S. destroyers and Iran trade fire in Strait of Hormuz in serious test of ceasefire

Amna Nawaz:

The U.S. and Iran have exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz, with the top Iranian military command accusing the Americans of violating the now month-old cease-fire. The U.S. says the truce remains in effect.

Nick Schifrin's reporting out this late-breaking story and he joins me now.

So Nick, there's a lot we don't yet know, but what are your sources telling you?

Nick Schifrin:

The U.S. military now says an Iranian official is confirming to me tonight what is perhaps the most serious exchange of fire since the cease-fire.

But U.S. officials tell me, an Iranian official says that he believes this is true also, that this is not designed to end the cease-fire. This is not the restarting of the war.

So a U.S. official tells me that, earlier, two U.S. destroyers were transiting through the Strait of Hormuz and that's when, according to this statement released by the military's Middle East command, CENTCOM eliminated inbound threats and targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking U.S. forces, including missile and drone launch sites, command-and-control locations and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance nodes."

Now, that is important. That list at the end there is important, because that's a relatively long list of targets that the U.S. targeted in response to this attack. Those areas that the U.S. targeted include Bandar Abbas, where an Iranian official tells me the strikes hit the port, the loading dock and a garrison.

Also targeted right across from Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, and just across from there Minab. A U.S. official insists that this is not the restarting of the war, that this is a response to Iranian attacks at those two destroyers that were transiting the strait, which, by the way, was not a normal occasion.

Those destroyers did not transit that strait during the war. In fact, they only started to transit earlier this week. But, tonight, Iran is accusing the U.S. of violating the cease-fire, the command in Iran saying -- quote -- they will "respond powerfully." Iran has used that kind of language before.

So, clearly a moment of tension, but, again, U.S. officials and Iranian official confirming to me they do not think this is the end of the cease-fire.

Amna Nawaz:

As we say, a late-breaking story you're going to continue to report out.

Nick Schifrin, thank you so much.

Nick Schifrin:

Thank you.