Trump news at a glance: US and Iran exchange fire, which president calls ‘love tap’

Skirmishes threw into question the viability of shaky ceasefire that had largely held for previous month– key US politics stories from 7 May at a glance

The US and Iran were supposedly close to a peace deal on Thursday, according to Pakistani officials. That was before the US military and Iranian forces exchanged fire in the strait of Hormuz.

Each side claimed the other shot first, with US Central Command saying its forces intercepted “unprovoked Iranian attacks” and responded with “self-defense strikes”. Iranian officials said the US vessels were attacked after the US “violated” the ceasefire by targeting two ships at the strait of Hormuz and attacking civilian areas.