The United States and Iran exchanged fire near the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, intensifying concerns about the stability of the fragile ceasefire and the future of ongoing negotiations to end the conflict.

Hours after the confrontation, the United Arab Emirates — a major U.S. ally in the region — said it was responding to a missile and drone attack.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media that the incident occurred while three American destroyers were moving through the strategic waterway.

“There was no damage done to the three Destroyers, but great damage done to the Iranian attackers,” Trump wrote. “They were completely destroyed along with numerous small boats.”

The latest violence underscored the fragility of the ceasefire around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route that previously carried about 20% of the world’s oil supply before the conflict escalated earlier this year.

According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, no ships passed through the strait on Thursday, marking the second consecutive day without marine traffic — the first such disruption since March.

Despite the clashes, Trump insisted the ceasefire remained intact.

“The ceasefire is going. It’s in effect,” he said in an interview with ABC News, describing the exchange as “just a love tap.”

Trump later told reporters that negotiations with Iran were progressing positively but warned Tehran would face serious consequences if a final agreement is not reached.

He said the latest U.S. proposal includes guarantees that Iran would not obtain nuclear weapons and would surrender what he referred to as “the nuclear dust” to the United States.

“They’ve agreed,” Trump said. “But when they agree, it doesn’t mean much, because the next day they forget.”