Iran Launches Ballistic Missiles And Drones Toward Bahrain And Kuwait, U.S. Intercepts

Fresh exchanges of fire between Iran and the United States are raising new questions about the future of ceasefire talks, with Iran reportedly launching seven ballistic missiles and drones toward Bahrain and Kuwait and the U.S. military intercepting the projectiles.

“United States President Donald Trump has said he will not unfreeze billions of dollars in Iranian assets prior to a lasting ceasefire agreement being reached to formally end the US-Israel war with Iran”

Al Jazeera

U.S. Central Command said the sites were targeted after Iranian drones and missiles “posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic,” and it confirmed it hit radar sites, including an island in the strait, “to defend against further attacks.”

Al Jazeera

Iran said it had targeted the Kuwaiti Ali Al Salem air base that hosts U.S. forces, and the U.S. navy’s fifth fleet in Bahrain, according to state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

The diplomatic backdrop remains tense as Trump suggested a deal could be reached within days, while Global News Washington correspondent Reggie Cecchini said the messaging from Tehran suggests negotiations are at a standstill.

In parallel with the military exchanges, Trump told NBC News that he will “blow the hell out of them” if negotiations fail, while Al Jazeera reported Trump said he will not unfreeze billions of dollars in Iranian assets prior to a lasting ceasefire agreement being reached.

Al Jazeera said Trump indicated little room in the entrenched standoff over the frozen funds, quoting him: “If they behave, if they do a good job, we start talking,” and it added that any unfreezing “comes after” a deal is reached.

Al-Jazeera Net

Iran’s position is that the release of frozen assets is tied to trust and bargaining leverage, with Al Jazeera reporting that Iranian officials have repeatedly indicated any deal could be contingent on at least partial unfreezing of Tehran’s frozen assets.

The standoff is also framed by Iran as a response to U.S. actions during the ceasefire, with Al Jazeera noting that the U.S. twice launched military operations against Iran amid ongoing talks on its nuclear programme.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told CNN that the main problem in negotiating with the United States is “Washington’s changing and contradictory positions,” while CNN reported that the exchange of messages continued through Pakistani mediators.

“Ismail Baqaei, at a press briefing, criticized America's overreach, saying Washington's constant demands have hindered progress in the negotiations”

ANF

Baghaei’s critique was echoed in other reporting that described Washington’s “changing positions, moving the goalposts, different statements, contradictory remarks by different officials,” as the reason the process has become “very cumbersome.”

As the talks remain stalled, Baghaei demanded that the U.S. unconditionally release billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets held in foreign banks, rejecting the idea that such a move would represent a concession.

In the same CNN interview framing, Baghaei also accused the United States of violating the regional ceasefire that went into effect in April by attacking Iranian commercial ships “both in the Strait of Hormuz and in the high seas.”