U.S. Strikes Iran Launch Site in Bandar Abbas After Shooting Down Five Drones

The United States and Iran traded tit-for-tat strikes overnight, with U.S. forces initially striking an Iranian launch site in Bandar Abbas on the Strait of Hormuz after shooting down five Iranian one-way attack drones.

“US and Iran reach tentative deal to extend ceasefire, US officials say Negotiators for the US and Iran have agreed a framework of a deal that would extend their ceasefire for 60 days and launch negotiations on the future of Iran's nuclear programme, US officials say”

BBC

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it retaliated by firing at a U.S. air base in Kuwait, where Central Command said Kuwaiti forces successfully intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile and condemned the action by Tehran.

BBC

A U.S. official described the U.S. actions as “measured, purely defensive, and intended to maintain the ceasefire,” while the IRGC threatened escalation if Iran is attacked again.

The BBC reported that negotiators for the U.S. and Iran agreed a framework to extend their ceasefire for 60 days and launch negotiations on the future of Iran's nuclear programme, but said the agreement was yet to be approved by President Donald Trump or the leadership in Iran.

The BBC said the agreement is yet to be approved by President Donald Trump or the leadership in Iran, and noted conflicting reports from Tehran with Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency quoting a source close to talks that it had not been finalised or confirmed.

The White House called the purported MOU draft a "complete fabrication," while the BBC said the report included lifting Washington's naval blockade of Iranian ports and restoring non-military traffic through the Strait of Hormuz with Iran and Oman in control of management and routing of vessels.

CBS News

In a White House briefing, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, “It's always a mistake to get out ahead of the president,” and the BBC reported that he declined to confirm that an agreement had been reached.

The Washington Post reported that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on social media that the U.S. is continuing efforts to squeeze Iran financially, and quoted him saying the administration would move to shut down access for Iran’s airlines to landing spots, refueling and ticket sales.

The BBC said a 60-day extension would allow U.S. and Iranian teams to discuss technical issues about Iran's nuclear programme and its remaining stockpile of highly enriched uranium, with the U.S. and Iran also having disagreements over Iran’s stocks of enriched uranium and its nuclear program.

“• Fresh strikes: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched an attack targeting an American air base they say was the source of US strikes on Iranian targets hours before”

CNN

The Guardian reported that the draft Trump shared with allies would aim for commercial shipping in the strait to return to pre-war levels within 30 days and for negotiations envisaged to last as long as 60 days to commence on the future of Iran’s nuclear programme.

The Guardian also reported that Trump threatened on Wednesday to “blow up” Oman if it tried to reach a deal with Tehran that included the imposition of tolls, while the BBC said the Strait of Hormuz closure has impacted global fuel trade.

CNN reported that Iran’s newly created body to force shippers to comply with its rules around the Strait of Hormuz has been added to a U.S. Treasury sanctions list, and said the Persian Gulf Strait Authority has been placed on the Treasury’s Specially Designated Nationals list, which will generally prohibit U.S. persons from dealing with it.