The United States on Saturday said it shot down four Iranian drones that were allegedly heading toward the Strait of Hormuz on Friday before launching strikes on Iranian coastal radar and drone-control facilities, marking a fresh escalation in tensions between the two countries.
According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the drones posed an immediate threat to maritime traffic in one of the world’s most strategically important shipping lanes. In response, American forces targeted surveillance radar sites, including facilities located on islands in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
“The attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic,” CENTCOM said, adding that the strikes were intended to prevent further attacks.
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Ceasefire Comes Under Renewed Strain
The latest military action has intensified concerns about the durability of the already fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran. The exchange follows a series of incidents that have complicated efforts to secure a broader agreement extending the truce and restarting negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Earlier this week, Iranian drone attacks reportedly damaged a passenger terminal at Kuwait’s main airport, resulting in casualties and temporary disruptions to air travel.
Despite the renewed hostilities, US President Donald Trump struck an optimistic tone, telling reporters that “the situation with Iran seems to be going quite well.”
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Trump Signals Pressure, But Keeps Door Open To Deal
Speaking during an event in Wisconsin, Trump reiterated that Washington remains open to a negotiated settlement but warned that military options remain available if diplomacy fails.
“We’re going to come out of Iran very quickly and it’s going to be very strong one way or the other, whether it’s a piece of paper or the very tough way,” he said.
The remarks come amid uncertainty surrounding a proposed 60-day extension of the ceasefire. While US and Iranian negotiators reportedly reached a preliminary framework last week, Trump has since sought additional revisions, and Iranian officials have yet to publicly endorse the proposal.
In a separate television interview, Trump described the talks as difficult but suggested Iran would eventually have to make concessions.
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US Expands Pressure Campaign
Alongside military actions, Washington has continued to tighten economic pressure on Tehran. US authorities said American forces boarded a sanctioned oil tanker allegedly linked to Iran in the Indian Ocean, while additional sanctions were imposed on individuals, companies and vessels associated with Iran’s energy sector.
The latest measures underscore the Trump administration’s dual-track approach of combining military deterrence with economic pressure as negotiations with Tehran remain unresolved.
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