Iran’s foreign ministry has condemned US strikes in the southern Hormozgan province as a “gross violation” of the fragile ceasefire that has been in effect since early April. Seyed Majid Moosavi, commander of the Revolutionary Guard’s Aerospace Force, declared Iran’s readiness to respond, criticizing ongoing diplomatic efforts by stating that “negotiation with the enemy is pure loss” in a post on X. He affirmed that the air force, responsible for Iran’s strategic ballistic missile and drone programs, remains “highly vigilant, fully prepared for a decisive, swift response,” awaiting final orders from its commander-in-chief.
These attacks unfold amidst intense negotiations. Both sides had previously indicated progress on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at halting the conflict and resuming shipping through the blockaded Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Baqr Qalibaf, along with its foreign minister and central bank governor, were in Doha on Monday for discussions with Qatar’s prime minister regarding a potential agreement. Qalibaf has since returned to Iran following consultations with Qatari officials, as reported by Iran’s state television. He was reportedly seeking the release of approximately $24 billion in Iranian funds frozen overseas, a key component of the MoU, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency. Iran’s Fars news agency cited a source indicating that the unfreezing of these funds was the final significant hurdle to finalizing the MoU. Iranian sources suggest an initial deal would encompass ending the war on all fronts, establishing a 30-day framework for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and potentially offering some financial relief, with more complex issues like Iran’s nuclear program to be addressed in a subsequent phase. Reuters has reported that Iran has been selectively allowing ships through the Strait, prioritizing those linked to allied or closely tied nations and engaging in government-to-government agreements.
US President Donald Trump has consistently stated his primary objective in the conflict is to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon using highly enriched uranium, a claim Tehran has consistently denied. Trump had described talks with Iran as progressing “nicely” in a lengthy Truth Social post on Monday, but cautioned against new attacks should negotiations fail, asserting it would be “only a Great Deal for all, or no Deal at all.”
Following strikes on targets the US claimed included mine-laying boats and missile launch sites, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized to reporters in India’s Jaipur that the Strait of Hormuz “had to be open one way or the other.” US Central Command announced on Monday that it had conducted new strikes designed “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.” Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Tuesday that a tanker experienced an external explosion on its port side, near the waterline, 60 nautical miles (111km) from Oman’s capital, Muscat. UKMTO confirmed the vessel and crew were safe, though some bunker fuel was discharged into the sea. The conflict, which commenced with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, has triggered an unprecedented oil supply shock, driving up prices for oil, fuel, fertilizer, and food.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard declared on Tuesday that they reserve the right to retaliate. They also claimed their air defense units had shot down a US drone and fired upon another drone and a fighter jet that had allegedly entered Iranian airspace over the Gulf region. On the occasion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei stated on his Telegram channel, “The clock cannot be turned back, and the nations and lands of the region will no longer be a shield for American bases.”
Further highlighting regional tensions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that Israel would intensify strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, leading to an increase in the frequency and severity of attacks. Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health reported 12 fatalities in Israeli overnight strikes on the town of Mashghara, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. Lorenzo Kamel, a history professor at the University of Turin, told Al Jazeera that for a US-Iran peace agreement to succeed, Washington must “rein in” Netanyahu. Kamel suggested Netanyahu’s need to project himself as an indispensable wartime leader until Israeli elections fuels continuous escalation. Mohammad Eslamy, an analyst from the University of Tehran, told Al Jazeera that Iran might retaliate against the United Arab Emirates if Israel continues bombing Lebanon. Eslamy suggested that Trump might be using military escalation in the Persian Gulf to pressure Iran during deal discussions, and Iran might in turn challenge the US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
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