An Iranian official has rejected claims in state media that multiple individuals are unaccounted for following a US assault “on Iranian fishing and cargo ships” in the Persian Gulf.
The semi-official Mehr news agency reported the purported assault by “American warplanes,” citing the governor of Bandar-e-Lengeh, Fawad Moradzadeh.
Bandar-e-Lengeh is a minor harbor close to the Strait of Hormuz.
Later, another Iranian news agency, Tasnim, quoted Moradzadeh stating that “the information published in some media sources citing me is incorrect, and no official or verified statistics or details about such an attack have been released by the appropriate authorities.”
On Friday, the US military announced that it had targeted two oil tankers bearing Iranian flags that were attempting to evade the current US blockade, rendering them inoperable as they tried to enter an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman, according to US Central Command.
The Iran Conflict Has Changed — Trump Hasn’t
As the US anticipates Iran’s reply to its recent suggestion for resolving the conflict that started in late February, President Donald Trump’s comments persistently convey multiple clear messages.
The concepts he reiterates encompass the main arguments that: the US is in control; Iran’s armed forces are weakened; and the situation will conclude very shortly. Trump likewise asserts that Iran must not be permitted to create a nuclear weapon, and that navigation freedom in the Strait of Hormuz needs to be reinstated.
All of this complicates the task of assessing how credible his promises are regarding the closeness of a deal.
“They are looking to strike an agreement.” “We’ve engaged in excellent discussions in the past 24 hours, and it’s quite likely that we will reach an agreement,” Trump stated Wednesday at the White House.
For over a month, Trump has expressed similar views, claiming when he announced a two-week ceasefire on April 8 that “nearly all of the previous points of disagreement have been resolved between the United States and Iran, but a two-week timeframe will enable the Agreement to be completed and formalized.”
The ceasefire has been prolonged, yet there are no indications of additional discussions regarding a comprehensive agreement.
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