US Launches Strikes On Iranian Missile Sites In Self-Defense/Image@ BBC
The United States has conducted new military strikes in southern Iran, targeting missile installations and vessels allegedly attempting to lay mines.
The US Central Command stated that these actions were taken in “self-defense” to safeguard American troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.
Central Command spokesperson, Captain Tim Hawkins, emphasized that the US military remains committed to defending its personnel while exercising restraint amid the ongoing ceasefire between the two nations.
As of now, Iran has not issued a response to the US attacks.
However, spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baqai, indicated earlier that while some advancements have been made in discussions aimed at ending the conflict, a formal agreement is “not imminent.”
The implications of the recent strikes on potential peace negotiations between the US and Iran remain uncertain.
Following the military actions, US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, asserted that a deal is still achievable, referencing discussions earlier this week between Iran’s chief negotiator and foreign minister and Qatar’s prime minister.
”We’ll see if we can make progress. There’s a lot of back-and-forth regarding specific language in the initial document, so it may take a few days,” Rubio told reporters during an official visit to India.
He added that President Donald Trump has expressed a strong desire to reach an agreement, stating, “He’s either going to make a good deal or no deal.”
When asked about Monday’s strikes, Rubio reiterated the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, declaring, “They need to be open. What’s happening there is unlawful, illegal, unsustainable for the world, and unacceptable.”
According to reports from the New York Times, the US strikes were directed at an area near Bandar Abbas, a southern port city home to an Iranian naval base situated along the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Local officials in Bandar Abbas have reportedly begun investigating explosions heard in the region.
Earlier this month, tensions escalated following a confrontation between Iranian and US naval destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides blaming each other. Despite this incident, Trump insisted that a ceasefire remains in effect.
Over the weekend, President Trump suggested that both parties were nearing a deal but later instructed negotiators “not to rush into” an agreement.
Rubio had mentioned that an accord could potentially be finalized on Monday.
Baqai responded by acknowledging progress on many issues but clarified that it is premature to claim that an agreement is imminent.
He stated, “It is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion… But to say that this means the signing of an agreement is imminent – no one can make such a claim.”
The memorandum of understanding currently being discussed reportedly includes a 60-day extension of the ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and plans for further negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
CBS News has reported that US intelligence believes Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who sustained injuries during an Israeli strike on the first day of the war that also claimed his father’s life, is currently in an undisclosed location. The situation is complicating communication with his representatives and hindering the pace of negotiations with the US.
It is important to note that discussions are not expected to lead to an immediate final settlement. More contentious issues will likely be addressed later, including details surrounding Iranian sanctions relief, the release of frozen Iranian assets, and US demands for Iran to limit its nuclear ambitions.
At the onset of the conflict, Iran was estimated to possess approximately 440 kg (970 lbs) of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity only a short step away from achieving the weapons-grade 90% needed for nuclear bomb development.
On Monday night, President Trump stated that the enriched uranium should either be “immediately” handed over to the US or “preferably, in collaboration with the Islamic Republic of Iran, eliminated on-site.”
Since April 8, US and Iranian forces have adhered to a ceasefire agreement. Iran has maintained control over maritime shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, while the US Navy has attempted to blockade Iranian ports.
On February 28, the US and Israel executed extensive strikes on Iran, igniting conflict throughout the Middle East.
In retaliation, Iran targeted Israel and US-aligned nations in the Gulf, effectively shutting down the Strait of Hormuz.
This action caused a significant surge in global oil prices.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong