Us Iran: US strikes near Bandar Abbas as talks continue
us iran talks were jolted on Monday when the US said it launched new strikes on southern Iran near Bandar Abbas, targeting missile sites and boats attempting to place mines. US Central Command said the strikes were taken in self-defense and were aimed at protecting US troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.
Central Command spokesperson Capt Tim Hawkins said the US military “continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire.” The strikes landed while Iranian and US officials were still talking through a possible deal, including a 60-day ceasefire extension, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and further negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Bandar Abbas and the Strait of Hormuz
Capt Tim Hawkins said the strikes targeted an area near Bandar Abbas, a southern port city and home of an Iranian naval base on the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media reported that local officials in Bandar Abbas were investigating after explosions were heard.
Marco Rubio said the straits have to stay open. “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,” Rubio said during an official visit to India.
Iran talks with Qatar
Rubio said a deal was still possible and pointed to talks on Tuesday involving Iran’s top negotiator, Iran’s foreign minister and Qatar’s prime minister. Rubio also said President Donald Trump had expressed his desire to make a deal, while Trump had earlier told negotiators not to rush into one.
At the weekend, Trump said the sides were close to a deal, then later said negotiators should not rush into it. Rubio said an agreement could possibly be reached on Monday, but Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai said a deal “is not imminent.”
Iran’s nuclear programme
Baqai said some progress had been made in talks to end the war, and that a large portion of the issues under discussion had been resolved. He added, “But to say that this means the signing of an agreement is imminent - no-one can make such a claim.”
The discussions are not expected to produce a final settlement immediately, and US media reported that harder issues would likely be left for later, including sanctions relief, frozen Iranian funds and US demands for Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions. At the start of the war, Iran is thought to have had about 440kg of uranium enriched up to 60% purity, with 90% enrichment and 970 lbs cited in the reporting as comparison figures tied to the nuclear file.
