Top Headlines
U.S. military strikes tanker and launches air raids on coastal areas; Iran says it has retaliated
U.S. destroyers successfully transit the Strait of Hormuz, warning Iran of harsher strikes if no agreement is reached
U.S. strikes multiple locations in southern Iran, but ceasefire remains in place
U.S. attacks Iranian tanker and vessels, violating ceasefire agreement
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz plunges to near zero
Daly: Actions matter more than statement wording; no need to overreact to energy shocks
Iran says U.S. proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is unrealistic
U.S. considers restarting the “Freedom Plan” as early as this week
U.S. one-year inflation expectations rise to 3.64%
Detailed Headlines
U.S. Military Strikes Tanker and Launches Air Raids on Coastal Areas; Iran Says It Has Retaliated
In the early hours of May 8 local time, a spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a statement that U.S. forces violated the ceasefire by attacking an oil tanker traveling from the coastal waters of Jask toward the Strait of Hormuz, as well as another vessel entering the strait near Fujairah Port in the UAE.
The statement also said the United States, in coordination with several regional countries, launched airstrikes on civilian coastal areas in Hamir, Sirik, and Qeshm Island in Iran. It added that Iranian armed forces had retaliated against U.S. military vessels east of the Strait of Hormuz and south of Chabahar Port, inflicting significant damage. The spokesperson stressed that Iran would respond to any act of aggression.
U.S. Destroyers Successfully Transit the Strait of Hormuz, Warning Iran of Harsher Strikes if No Agreement Is Reached
U.S. President Trump said that three world-class U.S. destroyers had successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz despite coming under attack. He stated that the destroyers suffered no damage, while the Iranian attackers incurred heavy losses.
Trump warned that if Iran does not quickly sign an agreement, “we will deal with them in the future with much stronger and far more intense measures.” His remarks came amid a fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire and ongoing military tensions between the two sides.
U.S. Strikes Multiple Locations in Southern Iran, but Ceasefire Remains in Place
From the evening of May 7 to the early hours of May 8 local time, multiple explosions were reported near Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas in southern Iran. Iranian authorities have not yet officially commented on the exact cause of the explosions.
A Fox News reporter cited a U.S. official on social media as saying that American forces had carried out strikes on Qeshm Port and Bandar Abbas, though this did not mean the war had resumed or that the temporary ceasefire had ended. The report has not been officially confirmed by the U.S. government.
Israeli media, citing Israeli sources, reported that Israel was not involved in the incidents. Separately, explosions were also reported early Thursday in the Minab area of southern Iran.
U.S. Attacks Iranian Tanker and Vessels, Violating Ceasefire Agreement
Iran’s Joint Armed Forces Headquarters issued a statement saying the United States attacked an Iranian oil tanker and another vessel entering the Strait of Hormuz, calling the move a violation of the existing ceasefire agreement.
Iran warned that it would respond forcefully and without hesitation to any attack. The statement also accused the United States, with assistance from certain regional countries, of launching airstrikes on civilian areas. The U.S. side has not yet responded to the accusations.
Shipping Traffic Through the Strait of Hormuz Plunges to Near Zero
CNN, citing data from vessel-tracking website MarineTraffic, reported that commercial shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to historically low levels over the past 48 hours.
Public data showed that no vessels had transited between the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf over the past two days. MarineTraffic data illustrated the shipping conditions around the Strait of Hormuz during that period.
GPS signal interference remains widespread. Several ships appeared to be sailing within the strait, but at least four were clearly transmitting false positions, showing locations either on land or on shallow sandbanks — areas considered extremely dangerous for cargo vessels. GPS spoofing was also observed off the coasts of Sharjah and Dibba Al-Fujairah in the UAE, where multiple ships appeared clustered at the same coordinates.
Daly: Actions Matter More Than Statement Wording; No Need to Overreact to Energy Shocks
San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said in remarks on Thursday that actions matter more than the wording of statements, and that the true signal from the meeting was the unanimous agreement behind the decision.
She noted there is currently no sign that energy prices are pushing up medium- or long-term inflation expectations, adding that it is still too early to draw conclusions. If the conflict ends and oil prices retreat without spilling over into the broader economy, she expects pre-conflict economic dynamics to return. Daly said monetary policy remains slightly restrictive and that a resolution to the war would put downward pressure on inflation. She also noted that the labor market remains stable and is not generating inflationary pressures.
Iran Says U.S. Proposal to Reopen the Strait of Hormuz Is Unrealistic
The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran has rejected the U.S. proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, calling the plan unrealistic.
Citing Iran’s state broadcaster Press TV, the report said Rezaei, a longtime adviser to the late Supreme Leader Khamenei, stated that Tehran would not allow the United States to reopen the strait under an unrealistic plan and then end the war without compensating Iran for the damages inflicted.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Baghaei told state media that Tehran is evaluating messages transmitted through Pakistani mediation and has not yet reached a conclusion or formally responded to the U.S. proposal.
In addition, Iranian lawmaker Seyedi dismissed U.S. claims that “400 kilograms of uranium had been removed from Iran” as political exaggeration and “a complete lie,” insisting that no uranium had been transferred out of the country. He stressed that Iran’s right to enrich uranium, the full lifting of sanctions, and the release of frozen national assets are non-negotiable red lines.
Earlier, the Wall Street Journal cited U.S. officials as saying Washington’s demands include a 20-year ban on uranium enrichment, the transfer of all enriched uranium out of Iran, the dismantling of nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, a prohibition on underground nuclear activities, and inspections with penalties for violations.
U.S. Considers Restarting the “Freedom Plan” as Early as This Week
According to U.S. officials, the Trump administration is seeking to restart the “Freedom Plan” to escort commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with operations potentially beginning as early as this week.
Reports citing U.S. and Saudi officials said Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have lifted restrictions on the use of their bases and airspace by U.S. forces, removing a major obstacle to the operation. The U.S. plan to reopen the strait relies on large-scale air support to protect commercial vessels from Iranian attacks, making Saudi and Kuwaiti facilities strategically critical.
U.S. One-Year Inflation Expectations Rise to 3.64%
The latest survey from the New York Fed showed that U.S. consumers’ one-year inflation expectations rose from 3.42% to 3.64% in April, above the estimated 3.4%, while remaining stable on a year-over-year basis.
Median expectations for gasoline price growth over the next year fell sharply to 5.1%, down from 9.4% in March. The data suggest that although the Middle East conflict has increased price pressures, consumers in April did not become significantly more concerned about a broader inflation surge.
Today’s Focus
15:00 (UTC+8) Switzerland April Consumer Confidence Index
15:05 (UTC+8) ECB Vice President Luis de Guindos Speaks
17:45 (UTC+8) Fed Governor Lisa Cook Speaks
20:00 (UTC+8) ECB Executive Board Member Cipollone Speaks
20:20 (UTC+8) BOE Governor Bailey Speaks on Global Imbalances
20:30 (UTC+8) U.S. April Nonfarm Payrolls
22:00 (UTC+8) Preliminary U.S. May One-Year Inflation Expectations