Conflicting claims between Washington and Tehran are likely to keep volatility elevated, with markets struggling to verify the actual state of play in the Strait of Hormuz. The US military’s denial of any warship strikes, alongside confirmation that commercial shipping continues to transit the strait, may offer some reassurance against the most extreme Hormuz closure scenarios, tempering oil’s gains. However, unconfirmed reports of an Iranian drone attack on the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain, if verified, would represent a significant escalation toward direct US Iran military confrontation, with potential for a sharp risk off reaction. The lack of corroborating reports from Bahrain itself warrants caution before pricing this in fully.
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Iran denies Trump’s claim of direct contact over strikes. US says no warships hit in Hormuz, commercial ships still transiting. Iran claims drone strike on Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, unconfirmed.
Summary:
- An Iranian source said Trump’s claim that Iranian officials spoke directly with him to request a halt to bombing is absolutely false, adding that no contact has been made and that Iran will respond militarily to acts of aggression
- The US military said no US warships have been struck in the Strait of Hormuz, after Iranian state media reported initial indications that US ships near the strait had been targeted by Iranian missiles and drones
- US Central Command said commercial ships continue to transit in and out of the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran’s top military command declared the strait closed to all vessels
- IRGC linked Tasnim News reported that Iran targeted the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain with drones, though there have so far been no credible reports of sirens or activated air defences in Bahrain
Iran has rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim that Iranian officials contacted him directly to request a halt to American airstrikes, with an Iranian source saying the claim is absolutely false, no contact has been made, and that Iran will respond to acts of aggression with military action.
The denial follows a night of conflicting reports from the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran’s top joint military command had earlier announced the closure of the waterway to all vessels, including oil tankers and commercial ships, warning that any vessel attempting passage would be targeted.
The US military pushed back on Iranian state media reports suggesting American warships near the strait had come under missile and drone attack, saying on Wednesday that no US warships have been struck. US Central Command also said commercial vessels continue to move in and out of the Strait of Hormuz, despite Iran’s stated closure order.
Adding to the uncertain picture, Tasnim News, which is linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that Iran had targeted the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain with drones. However, there have so far been no credible reports of air raid sirens or activated air defences in Bahrain, leaving the claim unverified.
The rapidly shifting and at times contradictory accounts from both sides underscore the difficulty of establishing a clear picture of the conflict as it unfolds, with implications for shipping, energy markets and the broader regional security situation remaining highly uncertain
