The Iran war’s shaky ceasefire was further strained yesterday as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) responded to a missile and drone attack hours after the US said it thwarted attacks on three US Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz and retaliated against Iranian military facilities.
There were no immediate reports of damage in the UAE.
Iran and the US are trading blows as their negotiators are seeking a deal to end the fighting, but so far they have avoided a return to all-out fighting.
Photo: AFP
It is not clear how close the two sides are to a deal on issues such as Iran’s nuclear program, which the US and Israel vowed to halt when they launched the war on Feb. 28, or the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that Iran has all but closed in a bid to pressure the global economy.
Tehran on Thursday said that it was examining the latest US proposals for ending the war delivered to it via Pakistan, which is serving as a mediator.
US President Donald Trump on Thursday played down the exchange of fire between Iran and the US Navy. In a phone call with a reporter for ABC, Trump called the retaliatory strikes against Iran “just a love tap.”
He insisted the ceasefire is holding and a deal could come “any day,” but reiterated threats of bombing if Tehran does not accept a deal that allows for resumption of oil and natural gas shipments disrupted by the conflict.
“They have to understand: If it doesn’t get signed, they’re going to have a lot of pain,” he told reporters in Washington.
Iranian state media said the nation’s forces exchanged fire with “the enemy” on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. It also reported loud noises and continuous defensive fire in western Tehran late on Thursday night.
Hours earlier, the US military said it had intercepted Iranian attacks on three US Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday night and “targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking US forces.”
US Central Command in a social media post said that US forces intercepted “unprovoked Iranian attacks” and responded with self-defense strikes.
The US military said that no ships were hit. It said it does not seek escalation, but “remains positioned and ready to protect American forces.”
Trump told reporters that the ceasefire was holding despite the violence.
Pakistani Minister for Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar on Thursday spoke by telephone with Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi, the Pakistani Ministry for Foreign Affairs said.
“We expect an agreement sooner rather than later,” ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said.
“We hope the parties will reach a peaceful and sustainable solution that will contribute not only to peace in our region, but to international peace as well,” he said.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, speaking in televised remarks, said Islamabad remained in “continuous contact with Iran and the United States, day and night, to stop the war and extend the ceasefire.”
Meanwhile, direct talks between Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to resume next week in Washington, said a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss plans for the closed-door meetings.
The official said talks would be held on Thursday and Friday next week.
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