Iran Accuses U.S. of Violating Truce Following Recent Strikes

On Tuesday, Iran accused the United States of violating the ceasefire that began on April 8, warning that it was prepared to retaliate after overnight U.S. strikes targeted Iranian missile sites and mine‑laying boats. The new attacks threatened a deal aimed at ending the conflict.

The Brent benchmark oil price rose by more than four percent following the announcement of the new wave of bombings by U.S. Central Command. China called on both sides to honor the truce and resolve their dispute peacefully.

According to the maritime safety monitor UKMTO, a blast damaged a tanker on the waterline off Oman. The crew and vessel were reportedly safe after what was described as an “external explosion”.

Iranian state media reported overnight blasts in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, near the Strait of Hormuz. The country’s Revolutionary Guards said they had downed a U.S. drone that entered Iranian airspace and had fired at an F‑35 fighter jet.

“The US terrorist army, continuing its illegal and unjustified actions since the ceasefire … has, in the past 48 hours, committed a gross violation of the ceasefire in the Hormozgan region,” the Iranian foreign ministry said.

It added that Tehran “will not leave any evil unanswered and will not hesitate to defend the Iranian nation,” without providing further details.

In a statement marking the start of the Eid al‑Adha holiday, Tehran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei declared that Washington was losing its influence in the Middle East and warned countries in the region to stop hosting bases from which the U.S. could launch attacks.

The United States, he said, “in addition to no longer having any safe haven in the region for aggression and the establishment of military bases, is moving further and further away from its former position with each passing day.”

Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, said: “US forces conducted self‑defence strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.”

– ‘We’ll see’ –

He gave few details of the attacks and said only that the targets included missile launch sites and boats attempting to “emplace mines.”

Despite the strikes, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that a deal remained within reach.

He remained firm on the Strait of Hormuz, the key oil and gas shipping route that Iran seeks to control.

“There were some talks going on in Qatar today, so 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 a visit to India.

He said the strait was “going to be open one way or the other,” adding: “What’s happening there is unlawful, it’s illegal, it’s unsustainable for the world, it’s unacceptable.”

Iranian state broadcaster IRIB said a top delegation returned from a two‑day visit to Qatar on Tuesday and that Tehran was finalising a 14‑point framework for a deal to end the war, which began with U.S.–Israeli airstrikes on February 28.

In a telephone conversation with Qatari ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country was “ready to reach a respectful framework to end the war,” according to IRIB.

Tasnim news agency said Tehran’s negotiators are seeking the release of frozen assets, with half to be made available once an initial memorandum of understanding is signed.

“Iran’s frozen assets are to be released during the course of the negotiations, and this amount is estimated at $24 billion in accordance with the 14‑point memorandum of understanding,” Tasnim said.

– Internet partially restored –

The new U.S. strikes threaten the ceasefire that began on April 8 as the U.S. and Iran struggle to reach an accord.

China, Washington’s great‑power rival and a major energy importer, expressed concern.

“We urge the parties concerned to fulfil their ceasefire commitments, resolve disputes through peaceful means… and promote the early restoration of peace,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters.

Hopes of an accord took another blow when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “crush” Hezbollah in Lebanon on Monday.

Iran has demanded that any peace accord apply to the fighting in Lebanon as well.

An Israeli military official told AFP on Tuesday that they were expanding their ground operations inside Lebanon, sending forces beyond their self‑declared ‘Yellow Line’, already 10 kilometres (six miles) deep into the country.

In better news for Iranians, internet connectivity saw a “partial restoration” after nearly three months of blackout, monitor NetBlocks said on Tuesday, calling it the “longest nationwide internet shutdown in modern history”.

Iran’s vice president later confirmed the “first step” had been taken toward restoring the internet for Iranians, adding that the demands of Iranians “will be fulfilled”.

“Since a few minutes ago I could open international websites using my home internet provider,” said a 22‑year‑old woman from the western city of Kermanshah who declined to be named, but she said she still needed VPNs for social media.

The post Iran accuses US of breaking truce after new strikes appeared first on Vanguard News.