US Says It Strikes 'Multiple Targets' in Iran
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
The United States military announced on Wednesday that it had begun another round of strikes against Iran after President Donald Trump threatened to escalate attacks. The increasing assaults threaten to derail efforts to end the war, as Trump warned Tehran would 'pay the price' for the stalled negotiations. The US Central Command stated on social media that the military was targeting 'multiple objectives in Iran' in response to the 'ongoing and unprovoked aggression' of the Islamic Republic. These offensives came a day after the US attacked Iran following the crash of a US military helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz, which Trump attributed to Iran. The president urged Iran to sign an agreement to end the war. On Wednesday morning, the US military reported firing on a tanker attempting to transport oil from Iran in violation of its blockade on Iranian ports. Trump's comments highlighted the shifting approach of the US leader towards the war; earlier this week, he suggested that an agreement to end the conflict could be reached within days. Iran has shown resilience despite facing weeks of intense bombardments, banking on its ability to effectively close the Strait of Hormuz—a crucial passage for oil and natural gas—as a strong bargaining chip. Iran's UN envoy stated that the US should refrain from threatening the use of force if it wants an agreement. 'Iran has never negotiated under threats and pressure and will never submit to pressure or questioning,' Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani told the UN Security Council on Wednesday. Nevertheless, both countries appear to be seeking a way to end the conflict if they can sell it as a victory at home. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems determined to pursue objectives that make compromise more difficult: the overthrow of Iran's theocratic government, the elimination of its nuclear program, and the destruction of the Iran-aligned political-military group Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump claimed that the US has been secretly smuggling oil past Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz since last month, stating that ships were sailing at night, aided by the destruction of Iranian radar equipment. He said that as a result, over 100 million barrels of oil have evaded Iran's tight control over the strait. There was no immediate confirmation of that figure, which is approximately equivalent to five days of oil shipments through the waterway before the war began. The role of the military remains unclear. Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for Central Command, stated that US forces 'communicate and coordinate' with commercial vessels in the area but did not provide details on the military support being offered. The US military reported on Wednesday that a US aircraft fired 'precision munitions' at the engine room of the Palauan-flagged vessel M/T Settebello while it attempted to breach the naval blockade with a cargo of Iranian oil. This was the eighth merchant vessel disabled by US forces in the waters off Iran. India's Foreign Ministry reported that three Indian sailors were missing after the Settebello was hit, while 21 others were rescued. The statement did not mention the US military or the blockade. Hawkins from Central Command stated that US forces warned the crew before firing on the ship. The US military said that the strikes carried out on Wednesday morning targeted 'air defense, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites.' Iran indicated that the US attacks hit two water storage facilities in its southern city of Sirik, temporarily cutting off water supply to thousands of people. So far, Central Command has not commented. Tehran later claimed responsibility for attacks in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. Jordan reported that it intercepted five incoming missiles, which Iran claimed were targeting a military base housing US aircraft. Bahrain and Kuwait reported intercepting incoming fire. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the US attacks as a violation of Iranian sovereignty. Spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei, stated in televised comments that, in light of the new attacks, Iran would reconsider its stance on negotiations to end the war. Efforts to mediate an agreement continued. Following consultations with the US, a delegation from Qatar arrived in Tehran for talks on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the visit who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions. The exchanges occurred a day after a US Army attack helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz. The helicopter collided with an Iranian drone, according to a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. It was unclear whether the collision was intentional. A marine drone rescued both crew members from the helicopter, and Trump stated they were unharmed. Significant disagreements stand in the way of a swift peace agreement. Wary of high gasoline prices ahead of the November congressional elections, Trump appears to be seeking a quick victory. However, he also raises demands that will be difficult for Iran to accept. The US wants Iran to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Although the Islamic Republic insists its nuclear program is peaceful, that uranium is a short technical step away from weapon-grade levels. Iran refuses to relinquish the uranium and demands relief from sanctions. It also wants the release of frozen assets even before a final agreement, something Trump has rejected. It remains unclear how these differences can be bridged. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated on Wednesday that Iran was taking 'too long to negotiate an agreement' and that 'they will now have to pay the price!!!' Meanwhile, Iran has insisted that any agreement to end the war must also end the fighting between its ally Hezbollah and Israel. In contrast, Israel has intensified its military campaign against the rebel group based in Lebanon. An airstrike on a village east of Tyre killed at least six people, according to Lebanon's state news agency. It reported that two others were killed by an Israeli drone strike on a car in the southern city of Sidon. This story was translated from English by an AP editor with the help of a generative artificial intelligence tool. An editor from Telemundo Digital reviewed the translation.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
