Illustrative image. (U.S. Central Command)
United States and Israeli strikes hit Iranian vessels south of the Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, killing “several Iranian nationals,” the Islamic Republic semi-official Fars news agency reported on May 26.
While the news agency did not confirm the exact number of dead, some Iranian media reports said four people were killed in the strikes.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) later announced that it had carried out strikes in southern Iran against targets including boats attempting to lay mines and missile launch sites, in what it describes as “defensive actions.”
In a statement, the command said that the strikes were designed “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.”
“US Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” said Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson.
Responding, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that its air defense units shot down an MQ-9 Reaper combat drone over the Persian Gulf after what it described as “precise intelligence monitoring.”
An RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude surveillance drone and an F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet were also forced to flee Iranian airspace after Revolutionary Guards air defenses opened fire, the guards said in a statement, warning against any violation of the ceasefire by the U.S. and stressing that it reserves its right to retaliate.
Iran’s senior armed forces spokesman also warned that the Islamic Republic would respond more forcefully to any new attack by the U.S. or Israel, saying that the Islamic Republic had identified targets and was prepared for war.
“The response to any new aggression will be different from what it was before,” Abolfazl Shekarchi told Al Jazeera, adding that Iran’s attacks would be “more severe, heavier and stronger” than in previous conflicts.
Shekarchi also said that Iran would control the Strait of Hormuz. “Iran will manage this vital waterway firmly and decisively with the aim of ensuring security and protecting international trade and the global economy.”
Iranian media published a message attributed to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei marking the Hajj pilgrimage. In the message, the leader warned that Gulf powers will no longer be a shield for United States bases and the US will no longer have a safe haven in the region.
“The region will not return to past conditions, and Washington will no longer have a safe place to station military bases in the region,” he added.
Despite the escalation, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that an agreement with the Islamic Republic is still possible.
“There were some talks going on in Qatar today, so we’ll see if we can make progress. I think it’s a lot of talking back and forth going on about specific language in the initial document, so it’ll take a few days,” Rubio told reporters in Jaipur during an official visit to India.
“The president’s expressed his desire to make it. He’s either going to make a good deal or no deal,” he added.
The strikes on Larak Island were likely an attempt by the U.S. to show Iran that it was willing to return to war if talks failed. The Islamic Republic will likely respond, in a way or another. Just like clashes from earlier in the month, it is unlikely that ongoing diplomatic efforts will be affected.
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since trump will make a good deal or no deal at all, we already know the outcome. trump has never made a deal in his life, period. so the outcome is already known. the gulf arabs want to wait until the end of the hajj…but will the orange buffoon wait? not if bibi has anything to cry about.
trumpy has given up his burgers for tacos and nachos.
trump always chickens out.
not a chance hormuz opens.
matem o rei da arabia saudita acabem com esse país maldito e com o sanguinario emirados arabes unidos morte a esses países e israel
the trumpanzee just can’t be trusted and never could, he had broken several ceasefires, iran just pay the bastard back.
no war will end that is currently underway by uni banker pirate globalists.