India, May 9 -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio clashed with reporters during a tense press briefing in Rome on Friday after being questioned about the status of the Iran ceasefire following fresh military exchanges in the Strait of Hormuz.

The confrontation came amid tensions in the region after Iranian forces allegedly fired on US naval destroyers operating in international waters, prompting a retaliatory response from the American military.

Rubio defended the action as necessary and accused reporters of ignoring the circumstances behind the exchange.

"What you saw yesterday was US destroyers moving through international waters being fired upon by the Iranians, and the US responded defensively to protect itself," Rubio said, as quo...