Roving Periscope: Chasing a peace deal, the US launches fresh strikes on Iran
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: With no headway in the stalemated peace talks, the US late on Wednesday launched fresh ‘defensive’ strikes on an Iranian military facility, after drone threats near the Strait of Hormuz, the media reported.
Reports quoted two US officials saying that the US military forces shot down four Iranian drones and struck a base that was about to launch a fifth drone after determining they posed a threat to the Strait of Hormuz, virtually blockaded by the US.
The US Central Command forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz. They also struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.
The strikes came after President Donald Trump asserted on Wednesday that Iran is “negotiating on fumes” and insisted that November 2026’s midterm elections will not make him rush into a deal to end the nearly three-month-old conflict that has spurred unease across the global economy.
Addressing a Cabinet meeting, he expressed confidence that a deal is near. Over the weekend, he even declared that his administration and Tehran had “largely negotiated” a settlement, although the talks are still in flux.
Trump is looking for a settlement that will reopen the Strait of Hormuz and provide him with a credible argument that Iran’s nuclear capability has been diminished enough to declare victory, winding down a conflict that has been politically unpopular for Republicans. But he also risks finding that closure to his war of choice comes with an unsatisfactory ending.
The emerging deal puts off many critical issues to be resolved later and has already exposed him to fierce criticism — even from some of his own supporters — that Iran’s hardline leaders will emerge from the conflict battered but emboldened. It all comes to a head just as the November midterm elections to determine control of Congress come into focus and as Republicans worry that rising costs and fuel prices are darkening the American electorate’s mood.
But Trump on Wednesday dismissed the idea that the upcoming elections would shape his Iran strategy.
About Iran, he said “They want very much to make a deal. So far, they haven’t gotten there. We’re not satisfied with it, but we will be — either that or we’ll have to just finish the job.”
Talks were further complicated after the US forces carried out what the Pentagon called “defensive” strikes on missile launch sites and minelaying boats in southern Iran on Monday. The US said it acted with “restraint” in light of the ongoing weekslong ceasefire, while Iran decried the action as a sign of “bad faith and unreliability.” Wednesday’s strikes are likely to cause more complications.
Under the potential deal, Tehran may agree to give up its stockpile of highly-enriched uranium — a key Trump demand — in return for sanctions relief. How Iran would give up the uranium would be subject to further talks during a 60-day period. Some would likely be diluted, while the rest would be transferred to a third country, an official said.
Trump said that he “wouldn’t be comfortable” with either Russia or China taking Iran’s stockpile of highly-enriched uranium. The two countries have the closest relations with Tehran, and nuclear analysts have said they could be a potential acceptable third party to the Iranian Republic to take possession of the enriched uranium as part of a potential deal.
Iran has 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium that is enriched up to 60 per cent purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Iran has not publicly committed to giving up its uranium.
Lebanon
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday announced that the Israeli military is “deepening its operation” in Lebanon. Overnight, Israel’s military clashed with the Iran-backed militant Hezbollah group along a strategic river in southern Lebanon as Israeli troops pushed farther north.
Israel fears that Iran would quickly move to direct any sanctions relief to restore its military capability and boost proxy groups, including Hezbollah and Hamas in Gaza.
The Abraham Accords
Trump on Wednesday also reinforced his call that the Iran deal should include a requirement for several additional countries, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan, to join the Abraham Accords, the US-brokered agreements from Trump’s first term aimed at normalising diplomatic and economic relations with Israel.
His optimism that the other West Asian and majority-Muslim countries could soon sign on to the accords might be overly ambitious.
For example, Saudi Arabia, the most significant power in the Arab world and long seen as the biggest prize for the normalisation effort, has insisted that establishing a guaranteed path to a Palestinian state remains a precondition. It is something that Israel vehemently opposes.
Trump pushed for the Abraham Accords during a call with leaders of Mideast allies over the weekend. An expert, however, said his pitch was greeted by “stunned silence.”
Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Abbas has, however, completely rejected Trump’s call to join the Accords.
