© picture alliance / Newscom | JIM LO SCALZO
The fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is under heavy pressure after both sides launched attacks against each other overnight, from Tuesday to Wednesday. The US attacked Iranian air defense and radar installations in response to Iran’s downing of a US military helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran retaliated with missile strikes on U.S. bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, although nearly all missiles were intercepted and no U.S. casualties have been reported.
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had to “reconsider” its participation in the peace talks, citing the need for “a minimally stable environment” for diplomacy.
According to U.S. President Donald Trump, Iran has had plenty of time to reach a peace agreement and will now “have to pay the price” for it. "The Iranian military is a complete mess, he wrote on Truth Social. "A large part of it, such as the navy and the air force, doesn’t even exist anymore; they have been completely defeated. (...) The Middle East’s bully is DEAD!!! They waited too long to strike a deal that would have been great for them; now they’ll have to pay the price!!!"
A senior White House official suggested to Politico that an agreement could still be within reach and that the military actions could be viewed separately from the diplomatic efforts.
Nevertheless, significant obstacles remain. Iran demands sanctions relief, the release of frozen assets, and control over the Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. insists that any agreement must prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
The ongoing Israeli attacks in Lebanon, which Iran insists must be part of a broader ceasefire, further complicate the negotiations. Since the start of the latest conflict, more than 3,600 people in Lebanon have been killed in Israeli attacks.
Trump is under domestic pressure to reach an agreement as the midterm elections approach. In addition, he's facing rising inflation in his country, and his approval ratings continue to fall.
Picture: © picture alliance / Newscom | JIM LO SCALZO