Tensions are rising again between the United States and Iran. The U.S. struck missile sites and vessels that were attempting to lay mines. Tehran responded by threatening actions against American bases in the region, in a situation that could jeopardize negotiations to end the war. The U.S. Central Command said the strikes were carried out in “self-defense” and were intended “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.”
Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused the United States of violating the ceasefire with “aggressive acts” in the Hormozgan region, where Bandar Abbas is located. In a statement broadcast by Iranian state media IRIB, the ministry said the action shows the “malice and hypocrisy” of the U.S. government toward Iran and added that Tehran will not hesitate to defend itself.
‘The U.S. terrorist army continues its illegal and unjustified actions,’ the statement said, alleging that ‘it has committed a clear violation of the ceasefire in the Hormozgan region.’ The Foreign Ministry ‘firmly condemns these acts of aggression’ and added that ‘the U.S. regime is responsible for all consequences resulting from such acts of aggression.’ In conclusion, Tehran said that ‘the Islamic Republic of Iran will not leave any wrongdoing unpunished and will not hesitate to defend the Iranian nation.’
Tehran’s threat: Khamenei speaks
After the raids, Mojtaba Khamenei issued a message. He said Gulf states would no longer serve as a “shield” for U.S. military bases, according to a statement on Telegram released on the occasion of Hajj and relayed by Al Jazeera English. “The U.S. will have no safe refuge from which to spread evil and establish its military bases in the region,” the statement said. Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public since March, when he succeeded his father, Ali Khamenei, who was reported killed during U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran.
Any new aggression against Iran will receive a “much harsher” response extending beyond the region, warned Iranian Armed Forces spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi. According to the Iranian news agency Fars, Shekarchi said that in the event of renewed conflict, Iran’s attacks would go beyond regional borders and be more intense and violent than before.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it shot down an MQ-9 Reaper drone after identifying a “hostile aircraft” entering Iranian airspace. The IRGC said it reserves the “legitimate and final” right to respond to any U.S. violation of the ceasefire.
The U.S. attack: Rubio’s remarks
The Central Command spokesperson, Captain Tim Hawkins, said that U.S. forces “continue to defend their troops while exercising restraint during the ongoing ceasefire” between the two countries. Iran has not yet responded directly to the U.S. strikes. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baqai, had previously said that although some progress had been made in talks to end the war, an agreement “is not imminent.” It is unclear how the attacks will affect any potential peace deal between the U.S. and Iran.
“The Strait of Hormuz must be open, one way or another,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said about the U.S. strikes, referring to the importance of keeping shipping lanes accessible. “Straits must be open; they will be open one way or another,” he told reporters aboard his plane in Jaipur, India, adding that defining the terms of an agreement with Iran could take “a few days.”
Rubio said an agreement is still possible and pointed to talks between Iran’s chief negotiator and foreign minister and Qatar’s prime minister taking place today. “We will see if we can make progress. I believe there is a broad exchange of views on some specific points of the initial document, so it will take a few days,” Rubio said, adding that President Donald Trump has “expressed a desire to achieve it.”
As the attack occurred, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth about Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, a key issue in negotiations to end the war. Tehran has about 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%; with a few relatively simple additional steps, that material could reach the enrichment level needed for weapons production.
Iranian diplomats negotiating on behalf of Tehran “must negotiate from a position of strength,” wrote Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, on X. “The undisputed victor of the war has been and remains the brave Iranian nation,” he added. “Concessions to the enemy only make it more ferocious and worsen our problems. Please, do not bury the red lines.”
Islamabad: “Joining the Abraham Accords is unacceptable”
Meanwhile, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said he does not believe Islamabad should join the Abraham Accords, which normalize relations with Israel, according to the ANI news agency. “Personally, I don’t think we should join any agreement that conflicts with our core ideologies,” Asif told Samaa TV, according to ANI. “We have a very clear position: this is unacceptable to us.”
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