Here’s How Many Times The U.S. Has Exchanged Fire With Iran Since Supposed Ceasefire Began

President Trump declared the Iran conflict "terminated" in a letter to Congress last week, claiming no exchanges of fire since it began to sidestep the 60-day clock requiring legislative approval. The numbers tell a different story: U.S. forces have fired on Iran at least four times, destroying at least 10 vessels, while Iran has attacked U.S. targets at least 11 times since the supposed ceasefire took effect on April 7.

On May 8, U.S. Central Command reported a Navy Super Hornet struck two Iranian-flagged oil tankers with precision munitions near an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman. That same day, Iranian state media released video of forces seizing the Chinese-owned Ocean Koi tanker carrying Iranian oil. The pattern of tit-for-tat naval clashes has continued without pause.

Trump described one May 7 incident—where Iran allegedly targeted three American destroyers with missiles and drones—as resulting in "great damage done to the Iranian attackers... they were completely destroyed along with numerous small boats." He dismissed the U.S. response as "love taps" while insisting the ceasefire remained intact. The next day, a Super Hornet fired cannon rounds at another Iranian-flagged vessel attempting to reach port.

Gen. Dan Caine told reporters on May 5 that Iran has attacked U.S. forces more than 10 times since the ceasefire, fired at commercial vessels nine times, and seized two container ships. U.S. Central Command separately confirmed destroying six Iranian military speedboats in the Strait of Hormuz on May 4, along with shooting down missiles and drones aimed at vessels the U.S. was escorting out of the area. Trump downplayed these as shots at "unrelated Nations," including a South Korean cargo ship.

Iran has meanwhile restarted strikes on the United Arab Emirates, hitting a major oil port and tanker on May 4 and launching two ballistic missiles plus three drones that injured three people. Tehran accuses the U.S. naval blockade—imposed in mid-April after Iran refused to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—of violating the truce. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday the U.S. awaits Iran's response to a proposal that would pause Iranian nuclear enrichment for lifted sanctions and reopened shipping lanes.

The gap between Trump's rhetoric labeling this a "mini war" and "little detour"—while avoiding the term "war" to dodge congressional oversight—and the documented reality of repeated lethal exchanges raises the obvious question: if this is peace, what does escalation look like?

Original reporting: Forbes.