8. May 2026

White House Insists Peace Deal Stands Despite Iranian Attacks on Navy Ships

WASHINGTON — The White House on Friday insisted that a fragile U.S.-brokered peace arrangement in the Middle East remains intact despite a series of Iranian attacks on American naval vessels that sharply escalated tensions in the region this week.

Administration officials said President Donald Trump remains committed to preserving the ceasefire framework negotiated through backchannel talks with regional allies, even after U.S. military officials reported that Iranian forces and affiliated militias launched multiple attacks against Navy ships operating in the Persian Gulf and nearby waters.

“The president believes the agreement is still holding,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. “The United States responded decisively to protect American personnel and assets, but our objective remains de-escalation and long-term regional stability.”

U.S. Central Command said Thursday that American warships came under repeated harassment and attack over a 48-hour period, including missile launches and explosive drone operations attributed to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and allied militant groups.

According to military officials, U.S. forces intercepted several incoming threats and destroyed multiple armed fast-attack boats after they approached American vessels at high speed in what commanders described as hostile maneuvers.

No American casualties were reported, though officials said at least one Navy destroyer sustained minor damage.

The incidents have raised fresh doubts about the viability of the broader ceasefire effort, which was intended to reduce hostilities between Iran, Israel and U.S. forces following weeks of regional violence that threatened to spiral into a wider conflict.

Trump, speaking earlier Friday before departing the White House, accused Tehran of violating the spirit of ongoing negotiations but said he was not yet prepared to abandon diplomatic efforts.

“They want to make a deal, but they’re testing us,” Trump said. “They know they can’t win against the United States military, and they know we will respond if they continue.”

Iranian officials denied directly targeting American vessels and accused the U.S. military of escalating tensions through what Tehran described as “provocative operations” near Iranian territorial waters.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the country remains committed to regional peace but warned that foreign military activity in the Gulf would continue to face “appropriate responses.”

The confrontations come amid heightened instability across the Middle East, where attacks involving Iranian-backed militias have intensified despite diplomatic efforts by the United States, Qatar and European governments to contain the violence.

Defense officials said the Pentagon has not altered its broader force posture in the region but acknowledged that commanders remain on high alert.

“We retain the capability to defend ourselves and our partners at all times,” Pentagon spokesperson Air Force Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder said. “Our forces acted appropriately and proportionally in response to imminent threats.”

Some lawmakers from both parties questioned whether the administration’s characterization of the agreement matches the realities unfolding in the region.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said the attacks demonstrated that Iran was “playing both sides,” while Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., warned that further military escalation could undermine any remaining diplomatic pathway.

Despite the renewed tensions, administration officials said indirect communications with Iranian intermediaries are continuing and that no party has formally withdrawn from the ceasefire arrangement.

The developments have rattled global energy markets and renewed concerns among U.S. allies about the risk of disruptions to shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for international oil transport.

Naval patrols in the region have increased in recent days as U.S. commanders monitor the possibility of additional attacks.