United States President Donald Trump has stated he will continue bombing Iran if it refuses to agree to an interim peace deal, following a second night of clashes between the forces of both countries. The U.S. and Iran have been in indirect negotiations since a ceasefire began on April 8, but progress has been elusive.
Trump's Ultimatum
Trump ordered multiple strikes as frustration over the lack of progress in talks grows. In an interview with Fox News, he declared that the U.S. would attack on Thursday unless the Islamic Republic accepts an accord designed to extend the increasingly tenuous ceasefire by two months and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Retaliation
Iran retaliated, as it did the previous night, by firing on U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. Kuwait briefly closed its airspace, and Jordan reported intercepting 20 missiles. Bahrain stated that one child was injured by shrapnel from missile interceptions falling on its capital, Manama. In Tehran, three people were injured, according to the semi-official Iranian Students’ News Agency, citing the head of the capital’s emergency services.
Strait of Hormuz Closure
Iran also announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to all types of vessels, signaling a tightening of its grip on the waterway. Since the conflict began in late February, only a small number of oil tankers and other vessels have managed to pass through. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have hit two vessels attempting to sail through the chokepoint early on Thursday. These incidents have not been independently confirmed, and the U.S. maintains that commercial ships continue to transit the strait.
Iran’s newly created Persian Gulf Strait Authority advised vessels that had already received permission to transit to “be patient and await further guidance.”
Negotiations Stalled
The U.S. and Iran have been engaged in indirect negotiations since the ceasefire began on April 8, but have failed to reach an interim deal. This interim agreement would be followed by more complex discussions regarding curbs to Tehran’s nuclear program. The confrontation has intensified over the past week, though attacks have so far focused on military targets, indicating both sides are unwilling to escalate tensions beyond a measured range.
Diplomatic Efforts
Despite the skirmishes, indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran continue, with Qatar playing an increasingly important role as a mediator. Sources familiar with the diplomacy report progress this week. Each side appears to be using exchanges of fire as a tactic to pressure the other and secure better terms in negotiations.
Iran stated that attacks by the U.S. render the ceasefire “effectively meaningless,” according to a foreign ministry statement published Thursday.
Recent Escalations
On Sunday night and into Monday, Israel and Iran launched missiles against each other. The U.S. subsequently blamed Iran for downing an Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. Although Iran has not claimed responsibility for the incident, it triggered Trump’s order for strikes over the past two days.
