US launches ‘self-defense’ strikes against Iran amid stalled talks

The U.S. military said it launched a series of “self-defense” strikes against Iranian radar and drone control sites over the weekend, the latest in a series of military actions amid ongoing peace negotiations.

U.S. Central Command said late Sunday that the military struck Geruk, Iran, and Qeshm Island in response to “aggressive Iranian actions,” including the shooting of a U.S. military drone that was operating over international waters.

According to CENTCOM, the U.S. strikes eliminated Iranian air defenses, a ground control station and two one-way attack drones that “posed clear threats to ships transiting regional waters.” The military said also intercepted two Iranian ballistic missiles targeting American forces based in Kuwait.

“U.S. Central Command remains vigilant and will continue to protect our forces from Iranian aggression while supporting the ongoing ceasefire,” CENTCOM said in a statement on Monday.

No American military members were harmed in the strikes, the announcement said.

“CENTCOM will continue to protect U.S. assets and interests in response to unwarranted Iranian aggression during the ongoing ceasefire,” the military said in a statement.

The weekend strikes come as peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran appear to have stalled. President Donald Trump late last month announced a peace agreement had “largely been negotiated,” and administration officials had insisted talks could take only “a few more days.”

However, a Friday meeting among administration officials in the Situation Room concluded without an announcement, despite the president’s previous assertion that a “final determination” would be reached. Trump said he will not rush the negotiations as he continues to demand Iran surrender all nuclear capabilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

As negotiations continue — and militaries on both sides carry out strikes — oil prices are once again rising. Normally, 20 percent of the global oil and gas supply travels through the Strait. But with the critical waterway closed, crude oil prices rose to more than $90 a barrel on Monday, an increase of more than 3 percent from Sunday. The average cost of gas is still hovering around $4.33 per gallon, according to AAA.

Administration officials have repeatedly said the spike in costs is temporary and that they expect prices to fall once a permanent peace agreement is reached.

المصدر: Politico