Hormuz attacks push US-Iran ceasefire to the brink

▪ Cracks appear in Iran ceasefire

▪ Trump’s endorsement put to test

▪ Abortion pill ruling paused

▪ A key Michigan special election

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The ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is showing major cracks for the first time since President Trump declared it would extend indefinitely to allow for peace negotiations.

The president’s move to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday led to tit-for-tat attack between U.S. and Iranian forces.

After Iran opened fire on U.S. warships, the U.S. military retaliated in destroying six Iranian small boats, according to Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command (Centcom).

Cooper said the military intercepted Iranian cruise missiles and drones. He “strongly advised” Iran to stay away from U.S. military assets as the U.S. proceeds with Project Freedom, the effort to help ships navigate through the strait.

Centcom said Monday that two cargo ships passed through the strait, but hundreds remain stuck in the Persian Gulf.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), a key U.S. ally in the region, reported missile and drone attacks from Tehran on Monday, the first since the ceasefire started nearly a month ago. The country’s defense ministry reported that three cruise missiles were intercepted, while one landed in the sea.

Cooper would not say during his call with reporters whether the ceasefire had ended, The Hill’s Ellen Mitchell and Filip Timotija report.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s top negotiator, accused the U.S. of violating the truce in a post on the social platform X early Tuesday morning.

“The security of shipping and energy transit has been jeopardized by the United States and its allies through the violation of the ceasefire and the imposition of a blockade,” he wrote. “We know full well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America; while we have not even begun yet.”

Trump stopped short of accusing Iran of violating the ceasefire in a conversation with ABC News’s Jonathan Karl on Monday.

“They were shot down for the most part,” Trump said of the UAE attacks. “One got through. Not huge damage.”

He urged South Korea to act after the country’s foreign ministry said it was looking into the possibility that a South Korean vessel may have been attacked in the strait. No casualties were reported despite a fire and explosion on the ship.

But some congressional Republicans, including at least one key ally, are urging the president to resume U.S. strikes.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of the most hawkish members of Congress, said the Iranian attack against the UAE and continued attacks on international shipping “more than justifies a big, strong and short response to inflict further damage on Iran’s war machine.”

“Iran’s recent brazen attack against the UAE tells me a lot about who’s in charge in Iran and the chance of a diplomatic solution any time soon,” he said in a post on X.

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) also backed a return to hostilities.

“The ceasefire has ceased. Time for Iran to learn another harsh lesson,” he said on X.

Renewed hostilities would likely send gas prices even higher after they have already surged more than 30 cents in the past week. AAA lists the average national cost of regular gas as now approaching $4.50 per gallon, the highest it’s been in four years.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sought to reassure the public on Monday that “help is on the way” for gas prices, if Project Freedom succeeds in freeing ships.

“So, every crew carrier that goes through [the strait] has about 2 million barrels, so four or five crew carriers a day coming through, of the pent-up demand, we think they’re more than 150, 200 crew carriers that can come out. So, I think the market’s going to be very well supplied,” he said on Fox News’s “America’s Newsroom.”

Trump said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine will hold a news conference this morning, as the U.S. weighs its response to Iran’s latest aggression.

▪ The Hill: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) spearheads GOP showdown on Iran.

▪ Axios: Trump’s frustration with Iran stalemate sparked Hormuz gambit.

The Securities........

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