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US strikes spark retaliation
The US launched new airstrikes against Iran hours after Donald Trump threatened to escalate the conflict unless Iran stopped attacking ships in the strait of Hormuz, and Iran responded by targeting US-allied Kuwait and Qatar while accusing the US of striking near its sole nuclear power plant.
“The US has launched new airstrikes against Iran, hours after Donald Trump threatened to escalate”
Sirens sounded at least three times in Bahrain, where the US navy’s fifth fleet is headquartered, as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it fired 10 ballistic missiles at Jordan’s Azraq military base on Thursday afternoon.
In Iran, officials said strikes targeted the perimeter of Iran’s only civilian nuclear plant in Bushehr province, and Ehsan Jahanian, the deputy governor of Bushehr, said there were no reports of casualties so far.
The Guardian reported that the tit-for-tat strikes were the largest since Tehran and Washington signed a memorandum of understanding on 17 June aimed at extending the ceasefire and giving space for negotiations for a permanent truce, while the US military said its strikes were meant to degrade Iran’s capacity to “threaten freedom of navigation” in the strait of Hormuz.
Trump posted videos of explosions in Iran and threatened the country again, writing on Truth Social: “This is in retribution for yesterday’s bombing of ships by Iran. If it happens again, it will get much worse!”
Regional diplomacy and warnings
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed the latest developments over the past two days during a phone call, with Al Thani emphasizing the need for all parties to commit to dialogue and diplomacy and to implement the memorandum of understanding.
In the same diplomatic track, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said the talks discussed the latest developments in the military escalation between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran over the last two days, while stressing adherence to the memorandum of understanding.
Al Jazeera Net also reported that Araghchi spoke by phone with Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir, with the Iranian Foreign Ministry saying Araghchi condemned what it described as American aggressive attacks on Iran and warned against any “adventure” the U.S. military might undertake.
The National described Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as carrying out missile and drone strikes against US military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait as a “punitive response,” and it said the IRGC later targeted Jordan’s Al Azraq Air Base with 10 ballistic missiles.
The National further reported that the US embassy urged people to seek cover immediately, shelter in place and remain indoors, while the US military said it was conducting additional strikes to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
What’s at stake next
The Guardian said the memorandum of understanding called for the reopening of the strait to commercial shipping for 60 days, and it described Thursday’s strikes as raising worries that the ceasefire could break down and concerns about the long-term prospects of negotiations.
“The MoU calls for the reopening of the strait to commercial shipping for 60 days”
The Guardian reported that the attacks caused oil prices to rise before they recovered later in the day after calm was restored, and it said the strait is a critical chokepoint for about 20% of the world’s oil and gas.
In parallel, The National reported that Iran accused Washington of committing a “gross war crime” and violating the 60-day ceasefire agreement signed on June 17, and it said Iran vowed that it would punish those responsible for aggression against the country.
Al Jazeera Net said Qatar reiterated its support for efforts to contain escalation and reach a comprehensive agreement that contributes to anchoring security and stability and achieving sustainable peace, while also emphasizing implementation of what was agreed within the memorandum of understanding.
The Guardian added that the UN’s nuclear watchdog had previously warned that attacks could “pose a very real danger to nuclear safety,” as officials said strikes targeted areas in Bushehr province including the perimeter of the nuclear power plant and a military base in the town of Choghadak.
