Dubai: The US military said early Thursday that it had completed its latest round of airstrikes targeting Iran, after President Donald Trump warned that Tehran would pay the price for stalled negotiations. The escalating attacks threatened to derail efforts to end the war.
The US Central Command issued a statement saying its forces targeted Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems and air defence sites across Iran. It did not elaborate on the damage done by the strikes, which it said had been carried out by the US Air Force, Marines and Navy.
The strikes are in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression, Central Command said. US forces remain vigilant, lethal and ready.
Iran has threatened to retaliate, and missile sirens sounded early Thursday morning in Bahrain, which hosts US troops.
Earlier, the US Central Command said in a social media post that the military was striking multiple targets in Iran, in attacks that were in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression. Iran threatened to retaliate.
The strikes took place after a day of Iranian fire in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan – all of which host US troops.
Iranian media reported that explosions were heard in southern Iran, in Bandar Abbas, Sirik and Minab.
It was the third time this week that back-and-forth strikes have tested a two-month ceasefire.
Trump has urged Iran to sign a deal to end the war and suggested earlier this week that an agreement could be reached in days.
Iran’s United Nations envoy said the US should refrain from threats of force if it wants a deal.
Iran has never negotiated under threats and pressure and will never submit to pressure or question, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani told the UN Security Council Wednesday.
Still, both countries seem to be looking for a way to end the conflict – if they can manage to sell it as a win at home.
Iran has proved resilient despite weeks of heavy bombing. It is betting that its ability to effectively close the Strait of Hormuz – a crucial passageway for oil and natural gas – gives it a strong bargaining chip.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears intent on pursuing goals that make compromise harder the collapse of Iran’s theocratic government, the elimination of its nuclear programme, and the destruction of the Iranian-allied Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon. Monday, Iran and Israel targeted each other.
Trump says US is sneaking oil past Strait of Hormuz
Since the US and Israel started the war with February 28 attacks on Iran, the conflict has shaken the global economy, driven up energy prices worldwide, and made food and other basics more expensive.
The international benchmark for crude oil traded above USD 93 a barrel Wednesday, up more than 25 per cent since the start of the war.
Trump said Wednesday the US military has since last month undertaken a secret mission to sneak oil shipments past Iran’s forces in the Strait of Hormuz. He said ships were slipping through at night, aided by the destruction of Iranian radar equipment.
Trump said as a result more than 100 million barrels of oil have evaded Iran’s chokehold on the strait. There was no immediate confirmation of that figure, which roughly equals five days of oil shipments through the waterway before the war began.
The military’s role was not immediately clear. Capt Tim Hawkins, a Central Command spokesman, said US forces communicate and coordinate with commercial ships in the area, but gave no details on military support being offered.
US, Iranian strikes shake West Asia
The US military said Wednesday an American aircraft fired precision munitions into the engine room of the Palau-flagged vessel MT Settebello as it attempted to breach the naval blockade with a shipment of Iranian oil. It was the eighth merchant vessel disabled by US forces in waters off Iran.
India’s foreign ministry said three Indian sailors were missing after the Settebello was struck, while 21 others were rescued. Its statement did not mention the US military or the blockade.
Hawkins of US Central Command said American forces warned the crew before firing on the ship.
The US military said strikes earlier Wednesday targeted air defence, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites.
Iran said US strikes hit two water reservoirs in the southern city of Sirik, temporarily cutting off water to thousands of people. US Central Command had no immediate comment.
Tehran later claimed attacks in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.
Jordan said it shot down five incoming missiles, which Iran said targeted an air base hosting American military aircraft.
Bahrain and Kuwait said they intercepted incoming fire.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the American attacks as a violation of Iranian sovereignty. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said in televised comments that, following the new attacks, Iran would review its stance on negotiations to end the war.
Efforts to mediate a deal continued. Following consultations with the US, a delegation from Qatar arrived in Tehran for talks Wednesday, according to an official with knowledge of the visit who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks.
The exchanges of fire came a day after a US Army attack helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz. The helicopter collided with an Iranian drone, according to a US official speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. It wasn’t clear whether the collision was intentional.
A drone boat rescued the helicopter’s two crew. Trump said they were uninjured.
Big disagreements stand in way of quick peace deal
Wary of high gas prices in the run-up to congressional elections in November, Trump seems to be looking for a quick win. But he is also making demands that will be tough for Iran to swallow.
The US wants to see Iran give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. While Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful, that uranium is a short technical step from weapons-grade levels.
Iran is refusing to give up the uranium and demanding relief from sanctions. It also wants the release of frozen assets even before a final agreement is in place, something Trump rejected.
It’s not clear how those differences can be bridged. In a Truth Social post Wednesday, Trump said Iran was taking too long to negotiate a deal and now they will have to pay the price!!!
Iran has insisted that any deal to end the war must also end fighting between its ally Hezbollah and Israel. Israel has instead intensified its military campaign against the Lebanon-based militant group.
