Hostilities between the United States and Iran have entered their fourth day, and there are no signs of de-escalation on the horizon. Donald Trump and the Pasdaran have issued their most serious threats in weeks, while America's Gulf allies continue to suffer attacks from Tehran. And, according to the Wall Street Journal, the latest clashes have derailed a second phase of talks on the most controversial issues , including Iran's nuclear program , which were supposed to be held this weekend in Switzerland . Since last Thursday's attack on an oil tanker in Hormuz and Washington's response, the ceasefire that followed the agreement signed on June 17 has never been so fragile . In a bellicose post on Truth, Trump warned that he was ready to "wipe out the Islamic Republic" if the United States were forced to return to war, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, announcing that Iran would control it exclusively for 30 days.
"US warplanes just struck Iranian missile and drone depots, as well as coastal radar sites, for violating the ceasefire agreement... again!" the US president wrote shortly after US Central Command announced it had struck ten Iranian targets near Hormuz. American forces targeted Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communications systems, air defense sites, drone depots, and mine-laying capabilities in response to the second IRGC attack on an oil tanker in the Strait, the Kiku. "They will most likely never learn their lesson! There may come a time when we will no longer be able to use reason and will be forced to militarily complete the work we have so successfully begun. If that were to happen, the Islamic Republic of Iran will cease to exist!" Trump warned. Minister Araghchi, for his part, declared that " any interference in the process of defining a new agreement in the Strait of Hormuz will exacerbate tensions and complicate the situation, causing a delay in the reopening of the waterway."
"Under the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States, the situation in Hormuz will return to pre-war conditions, under Iran's management, and no other country bears any responsibility in this regard," the Iranian Foreign Minister added. During a press conference in Baghdad alongside his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein, Araghchi also announced that Iran will maintain exclusive control of the strait for the next 30 days. Meanwhile, the Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for the attacks against Kuwait and Bahrain. The Revolutionary Guards said their navy and air force launched ballistic missiles and drones against the Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait and against the US Fifth Fleet at Port Salman, in the capital, Manama, in response to strikes by the US Central Command. The attacks caused no casualties, and, according to a US official told the New York Times, no damage or significant impact on US assets was reported. But Bahrain called for "international action to stop Iranian aggression." "Tehran's continued defiance of the international community requires a firm response," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "For this reason, we call on the United Nations Security Council to urgently convene an extraordinary session and assume its responsibilities."
(Unioneonline)
