Latest U.S. - Iran War News
An official statement from Centcom detailed that Iran's offensive against three U.S. warships utilized "multiple missiles, drones, and small boats," but confirmed that "no U.S. assets were struck."
The statement further explained that U.S. forces "neutralized incoming threats and struck Iranian military facilities responsible for the attacks, including missile and drone launch sites, command and control locations, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance nodes." The specific targets of the American strikes were not disclosed.
The military command emphasized that it "does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces." The White House directed inquiries to the Centcom statement on Thursday evening.
In a telephone interview, former President Donald Trump characterized the military action as a "love tap" and stated that the ceasefire with Iran remained "in effect."
This recent confrontation intensifies regional tensions as the U.S. seeks to conclude a conflict now in its third month. The previous administration had been awaiting Iran's response to a proposal aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending a war that has resulted in thousands of casualties and sparked a global energy crisis.
Iranian leaders had not signaled whether they would accept the terms of the offer, having previously shown little indication of conceding on their nuclear program or accepting a moratorium on uranium enrichment—both key U.S. demands.
Earlier on Thursday, stock markets declined and oil prices experienced volatility amid skepticism over the possibility of a deal to reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz.
In an effort to alleviate the crisis, Trump had previously announced "Project Freedom," an initiative to facilitate ship transit through the strait, before suspending it abruptly. A report indicated that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait had lifted restrictions on the U.S. military's use of regional bases, potentially enabling a restart of the effort to ease traffic through the strait.
A Central Command official commented on the reporting concerning the bases in relation to the Saudi and Kuwaiti governments. When asked if Project Freedom would be resumed, the official declined to comment on future operations. The embassies of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia did not respond to requests for comment.
According to a source, Washington transmitted a one-page memorandum to Iran that could lead to the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports. This would initiate a month of negotiations aimed at securing a final agreement to end the ten-week conflict.
A separate source stated that Iran is expected to send a response via Pakistan, which is acting as a mediator, within the next two days. Iran's state-affiliated news agency ISNA described reports on elements of the proposal as "media speculation and atmosphere-building," clarifying that nuclear enrichment is not part of the current discussions.
The former president faced significant domestic and international pressure to resolve the conflict, with polls indicating growing public disapproval as midterm elections approached, where energy costs were expected to be a major issue. Gasoline prices surpassed $4.50 per gallon for the first time since July 2022.
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