Fresh strikes and missile attacks across the Middle East on Wednesday, April 8, raised concerns that a recently announced ceasefire between the United States and Iran may be breaking down, according to official statements and media reports.
Reported strike on Iranian oil facility
Iran’s state broadcaster PressTV said US and Israeli forces targeted the Lavan Oil Refinery on Lavan Island, describing the attack as a violation of the ceasefire.
Emergency and firefighting teams were working at the site, according to the report.
The claim could not be independently verified.
Attacks across Gulf states
Missile and drone attacks were reported in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait hours after the reported strike on Iranian infrastructure.
The UAE Defense Ministry said its air defense systems were intercepting missiles and drones, adding that sounds heard across the country were linked to ongoing interceptions.
Kuwait’s military said it had intercepted multiple drones as part of what it described as a wave of Iranian attacks targeting critical infrastructure, including oil and energy facilities.
US response, Hegseth statement
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington had achieved all of its objectives in Iran, according to ABC News.
“America’s military achieved every single objective on plan, on schedule,” Hegseth said.
He added that Iran had been left with no viable options but to agree to a deal and claimed its military production capabilities had been severely degraded.
Trump statement
US President Donald Trump said Washington would continue engagement with Iran, including discussions on sanctions relief and nuclear restrictions, in a post on Truth Social.
He added that the United States had determined Iran was undergoing what he described as a “very productive regime change.”
Earlier, Trump said he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, just hours before a deadline he had set for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, under threat that if they didn’t comply, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.”
Trump’s announcement came after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif proposed a temporary halt in fighting to allow diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran. However, Israel continued military operations in Lebanon on Wednesday, despite a newly announced two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran that does not cover the Lebanese front.
Later, the Associated Press reported that Iran and Oman plan to charge transit fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz under a two-week ceasefire agreement.
On Monday, Iran delivered a 10-point proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. Two senior Iranian officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the proposal included a guarantee that Iran would not be attacked again, a cessation of Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the lifting of all sanctions.
While the full text of the Iranian plan has not been released, it reportedly outlines safe passage through the Strait, demands the lifting of sanctions, calls for reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, and seeks an end to regional hostilities.