TEHRAN – The US said it launched new strikes on southern Iran, targeting Iranian missile sites and boats attempting to place mines.
The strikes were taken in ‘self-defence’ and were designed ‘to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces’, US Central Command said in a statement.
Central Command Spokesperson Capt Tim Hawkins said the US military ‘continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire’ between the two countries.
Iran is yet to respond to the US attack. However, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baqai earlier said that while some progress had been made in talks to end the war, a deal ‘is not imminent’.
It is unclear what impact the strikes will have on any potential peace agreement between the US and Iran.
Following the strikes, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a deal was still possible and pointed to talks between Iran’s top negotiator and Foreign minister and Qatar’s prime minister.
“We’ll see if we can make progress. I think it’s a lot of talking back and forth going on about specific language in the initial document, so it’ll take a few days,” Rubio told reporters during an official visit to India.
He said President Donald Trump had ‘expressed his desire to make it’. ‘‘He’s either going to make a good deal or no deal,’’ Rubio said.
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