DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran has publicly condemned U.S. military strikes conducted on Monday in southern Iran, deeming them as a display of "bad faith" and "unreliability." This condemnation emerges amidst ongoing negotiations concerning a potential deal aimed at putting an end to the ongoing war.
The U.S. military has defined the strikes as defensive actions, indicating that the targets included missile launch sites and boats involved in laying mines. The U.S. military claimed to have acted with "restraint" during these operations, particularly in light of a ceasefire that had lasted several weeks.
In response, Iran's foreign ministry labeled the strikes a violation of the ceasefire, asserting that Washington would be held accountable for “all consequences.” The statement from the Iranian authorities emphasized that "the Islamic Republic of Iran will leave no act of aggression unanswered.”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced on Tuesday that they had successfully shot down drones and deterred a fighter jet that had reportedly entered Iranian airspace. While details regarding the timing of this incident remained unclear, it underscored the heightened tensions within the region.
These military actions have raised uncertainties surrounding the ongoing negotiations, which were reportedly making progress, according to U.S. President Donald Trump. The strikes coincided with a visit from Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf to Qatar, an event integral to the discussions.
The recent hostilities mark the latest tension in a fragile ceasefire that has been in effect since April 7, which has generally held but remains at risk due to such flare-ups. Central to the negotiations is the strategic Strait of Hormuz, an essential waterway off the coast of southern Iran, through which a substantial portion of the world’s crude oil and natural gas has historically transited. The conflict began following U.S.-Israeli strikes in February, leading Tehran to effectively close the strait, which created significant disruptions to global shipping and economic stability.
The Strait of Hormuz has transformed into a crucial bargaining chip for Iran in the discussions, alongside longstanding concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear program and the country’s stock of highly enriched uranium. Iran's demands include the lifting of the U.S. military blockade imposed on Iranian ports starting April 17, which plays a pivotal role in their negotiations.
Furthermore, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz is contributing to growing alarm regarding global food supplies, particularly impacting vulnerable farmers. Qu Dongyu, the director-general of the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization, declared, "What we are witnessing today is not only a geopolitical crisis, it is a systemic shock to the global agrifood system."
In a recent shift, Trump has introduced a new requirement regarding the negotiations to end the war, suggesting that any agreement must include commitments from additional countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, to partake in the Abraham Accords. This series of U.S.-brokered agreements aims to normalize relations with Israel and has previously involved countries like Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, who were the first to join in 2020, with others such as Sudan, Morocco, and Kazakhstan following suit. Egypt and Jordan already maintain formal recognition of Israel, while Turkey was the first to acknowledge it back in 1949.
The actions of Israel against Palestinians, especially in the context of the recent conflict with Hamas in Gaza, have led to tensions with Gulf Arab nations and the broader Muslim community. Nevertheless, Trump has expressed a desire to expand upon the Abraham Accords, suggesting that even Iran might eventually join this collaborative framework.
