A tenuous ceasefire appeared to be holding on Saturday after the United States struck two Iranian oil tankers, while Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Navy's regional headquarters, announced the arrest of dozens of individuals allegedly linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard.
Attacks on Friday cast doubt on the month-old ceasefire that the United States has insisted remains in effect. Washington is awaiting an Iranian response to its latest proposal for a deal to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and roll back Tehran's disputed nuclear program.
The U.S. military reported on Friday that its forces had disabled two Iranian tankers attempting to breach an American blockade of Iran's ports. Hours earlier, the military stated it had thwarted attacks on three Navy ships and struck Iranian military facilities in the strait.
In the Gulf island kingdom of Bahrain, the Ministry of Interior said on Saturday that it had arrested 41 people it alleges are part of a group affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard. The ministry indicated that investigations are ongoing to take further action against anyone linked to the group but did not provide additional details.
Bahrain is ruled by a Sunni Muslim monarchy, but like Iran, its population is majority Shiite. Rights groups have argued that the kingdom has used the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States—which bases its Fifth Fleet in Bahrain—as a pretext to suppress domestic dissent.
Strait of Hormuz Blockade
Iran has largely blocked the critical waterway for global energy since the U.S. and Israel launched the war on February 28, causing a global surge in fuel prices and unsettling world markets. The United States has imposed its own blockade of Iran's ports.
The U.S. military released video footage showing two Iranian tankers with their smokestacks struck by an American fighter jet on Friday. Earlier in the week, an American military jet shot out the rudder of a tanker that the U.S. military claimed was attempting to breach its blockade.
A U.S. strike overnight killed at least one sailor and injured ten others aboard a cargo vessel that caught fire, according to a news agency affiliated with Iran's judiciary. It remains unclear whether that ship was one of the two tankers the U.S. acknowledged striking.
Political Reactions
Despite the attacks, U.S. President Donald Trump has insisted that the ceasefire is holding. He has also reiterated threats to resume full-scale bombing if Iran does not accept an agreement to reopen the strait and roll back its nuclear program.
On Friday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that the country was not paying attention to "deadlines" and that Tehran continues to review a U.S. proposal related to ongoing negotiations, as reported by state-run IRNA.
A top Iranian official also stated on Friday that the country's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is in "complete health" and will eventually appear in public. The comments were made by Mazaher Hosseini, affiliated with the office of Iran's former Supreme Leader, at a pro-government gathering. Hosseini mentioned that Mojtaba had suffered knee and back injuries but that they have largely healed and he is now in good condition.
Khamenei has not been seen in public since the war began, and the continued absence of verified images, audio, or video has fueled speculation about his status. Remarks such as Hosseini's are seen by some as attempts to counter doubts that Khamenei may no longer be alive.
Calls for Calm
As tensions escalate, there has been a flurry of diplomatic activity globally. Russia's foreign ministry said on Saturday that it, along with Saudi Arabia, is calling for continued diplomatic efforts to reach a "sustainable, long-term agreement" to end the war.
Egyptian and Qatari top diplomats have also emphasized that diplomacy is the only path to a solution, according to a readout of a Saturday phone call between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that his country has been in contact with the U.S. and Iran "day and night" in an effort to extend the ceasefire and reach a peace deal.
