The US launched strikes on Iran early on Tuesday, hours after President Donald Trump vowed to reinstate an American blockade of Iranian ports and charge ships a 20 per cent fee for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliated with attacks on the Middle East allies of the US and ships traversing Hormuz.
The latest exchange of fire, which has left the interim peace deal in tatters, follows Trump’s statement that the war with Iran is moving “very fast” as US forces pressed ahead with strikes targeting Tehran’s military capabilities. The focus of the conflict now is the strait. The interim deal was meant to reopen the waterway, but Iran is attacking ships moving through the strait on a route overseen by the US military that is outside Tehran’s control. The US has now threatened to reopen the strait by force.
The US military’s Central Command said it struck several areas in Iran, targeting “coastal defence systems, missile and drone sites and maritime capabilities”. Iran acknowledged the strikes, but provided no immediate casualty or damage assessments.
New round of Lebanon-Israel talks begins
Washington: Lebanon and Israel are holding new negotiations under US auspices in Rome on Tuesday against the backdrop of a regional escalation between Washington and Tehran. The two countries, officially at war for decades, reached a framework agreement on June 26 after five rounds of negotiations in Washington, aimed at ending the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah and paving the way for peace.
Iran lawmakers present Hormuz management bill
Tehran: Iranian lawmakers have tabled a new plan for the management of the Strait of Hormuz as the hardline-dominated parliament reconvened after nearly five months of confrontation with the US.
During Monday night’s unannounced parliamentary session, members of Iran’s assembly waved religion-based red flags of vengeance for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top officials killed on the first day of the war. Hardline lawmakers also introduced a motion called the “Strategic Action for the Security and Sustainable Progress of the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf”, which could be debated or passed during future sessions.
Also read: Iran-US exchange fresh military strikes, Hormuz closed
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