By Idris Ali, Irene Banko and Hatem Maher

WASHINGTON/CAIRURA, May 10 (Reuters) - Relative calm prevailed at the Strait of Hormuz early on Sunday after sporadic attacks over several days, as the United States awaited Iran's response to its latest proposals to end the more than two-month-old war and begin peace talks.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that Washington expected a response within hours. However, there were no signs of action from Tehran regarding the proposal, which would formally end the war before talks begin on the most contentious issues, including Iran's nuclear program.

Rubio met with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Miami on Saturday. The U.S. State Department said in a statement, which made no mention of Iran, that they discussed the need to continue working together "to deter threats and promote stability and security throughout the Middle East."

LCI correspondent Margot Haddad said on Saturday that Trump told her in a brief interview that he still expected to hear Iran's response "very soon".

* Qatari tanker near the strait

With US President Donald Trump’s visit to China imminent this week, pressure is mounting to end the trade war that has fueled a global energy crisis and poses a growing threat to the global economy.

According to shipping data from the London Stock Exchange Group, a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday en route to Pakistan, a move that sources said had Iran's approval to build trust with Qatar and Pakistan, which are mediating to end the war.

If this voyage takes place, it will be the first passage of a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker through the strait since the United States and Israel launched the war on February 28.

Tehran has blocked almost all non-Iranian ships from passing through the strait, which before the war carried about 20 percent of the world's oil supply.

The past few days have seen the biggest escalation of clashes in and around the strait since the ceasefire came into effect about a month ago, and the UAE was subjected to new attacks on Friday.

The semi-official Fars news agency reported that sporadic clashes occurred on Friday between Iranian forces and US ships in the Strait.

The US military said it targeted two Iran-linked vessels that attempted to enter an Iranian port and forced them to retreat.

The ceasefire held

Washington imposed a blockade on Iranian ships last month. But a knowledgeable US official said a CIA assessment indicates that Iran will not face significant economic pressure from the US naval blockade for at least another four months.

This raised questions about the leverage Trump has over Iran in a war that lacks support among American voters and US allies.

A senior intelligence official described the claims regarding the CIA analysis as false. The Washington Post was the first to report on the intelligence agency's assessment.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday, "Every time a diplomatic solution is put on the table, the United States chooses to carry out a reckless military adventure."

The United States found little international support for the war. After meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday, Rubio questioned why Italy and other allies were reluctant to back Washington's efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and warned of a dangerous precedent if Tehran were allowed to control the waterway.

On Saturday, Britain, which is working with France on a proposal to ensure safe passage through the Strait once the situation in the region stabilizes, said it would send a warship to the Middle East in preparation for such a mission, which would involve several countries.