Just when it looked like the US and Iran might be inching toward a deal, American forces have launched fresh strikes in southern Iran – and the timing couldn’t be more tense.

Here’s what went down, according to cbinews.tv:

The US says it’s carried out new strikes on southern Iran, taking aim at missile sites and boats that were allegedly trying to lay mines. US Central Command called it “self-defence” – basically, a move “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces”.

Captain Tim Hawkins, a Central Command spokesperson, stressed that the US military “continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire” between the two countries.

So far, Iran hasn’t publicly responded to the strikes. But earlier, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai did admit some progress had been made in talks to end the war. His caveat? A deal “is not imminent”.

It’s anyone’s guess what these strikes mean for peace talks. But US Secretary of State Marco Rubio still sounds cautiously hopeful. He pointed to Tuesday talks between Iran’s top negotiator and Qatar’s prime minister, saying: “We’ll see if we can make progress. I think it’s a lot of talking back and forth going on about specific language in the initial document, so it’ll take a few days.”

Rubio added that President Donald Trump “expressed his desire to make it” – but was clear on the terms: “He’s either going to make a good deal or no deal.”

Rubio also doubled down on the Strait of Hormuz: “The straits have to be open. They’re going to be open one way or the other, so they need to be open. What’s happening there is unlawful, it’s illegal, it’s unsustainable for the world, it’s unacceptable.”

Capt. Hawkins said the strikes hit near Bandar Abbas, a key southern port city and Iranian naval base right on the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media had earlier reported that local officials were looking into explosions heard in the area.

This all follows a tense May, when a clash between Iranian and US naval destroyers in the Strait saw both sides pointing fingers. That spat prompted Trump to insist a ceasefire was still in place.

The wider conflict kicked off on 28 February when the US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran. Iran hit back by attacking Israel and US-allied Gulf states and effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz – sending oil prices through the roof.

At the weekend, Trump suggested a deal was close but later told negotiators “Not to rush into” one. Rubio had floated Monday as a possible agreement date. But Baqai poured cold water on that: “We have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues… But to say that this means the signing of an agreement is imminent - no-one can make such a claim.”

So, strikes are happening, talks are happening, and nobody’s quite sure which way this goes next.

Source: cbinews.tv

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