Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have targeted a US-linked base in response to American strikes on Iranian military sites, further escalating tensions in the region. The base’s location was not specified in the Guards’ statement, broadcast by IRIB and other state media.
Earlier, Kuwait’s military said its air defences were responding to a drone and missile attack. The United States struck Iranian radar and drone control sites over the weekend, its military said on Sunday, in response to the shootdown of a US MQ-1 drone.
Iran’s Chief Negotiator Warns of No Deal
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s chief negotiator, warned on Sunday that the United States was not to be trusted, saying Tehran would not agree to any deal with Washington unless it fully secured Iranian rights. This comes as reports emerged that US President Donald Trump had sent a tougher peace proposal back to Iran, underlining the rift that the parties still need to close.
According to the US Department of State, any tweaks to the draft could further delay an agreement to formally end the Middle East war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz after weeks of fraught negotiations marked by sharp rhetoric and occasional flare-ups of violence.
Iran’s Nuclear Programme a Major Sticking Point
Iran was already in talks with the United States about the fate of its nuclear programme in February when the US and Israel launched air and missile strikes that wiped out much of the Islamic republic’s senior leadership. While Tehran has long insisted that its nuclear programme is for purely civilian ends, the United States and its Western allies suspect it aims to develop a weapon.
The following are some key points to consider in the ongoing negotiations:
- The release of $12 billion in frozen assets is a major demand from Iran.
- The United States wants to stop Iran from developing any nuclear weapon.
- The reopening of the Hormuz shipping lane is a key priority for the US.
As reported by The New York Times, Trump has said his priorities include stopping Iran from developing any nuclear weapon and reopening the Hormuz shipping lane, which Iran has blockaded since the war began.
