Some of the dozens of American warplanes and nearly two dozen Navy warships, including two aircraft carriers and their escort ships enforcing a blockade against vessels trying to enter or leave Iranian ports in or around the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea, were threatened by Iranian surface-to-air missiles, a senior U.S. military official said. The U.S. strikes were near the Iranian port and navy base at Bandar Abbas, the official said.
American and Iranian forces have clashed in other ways since a cease-fire took effect approximately six weeks ago. But the strikes on Monday occurred as Iranian officials gathered in Qatar for negotiations on ending the war.
Iran said Monday that Tehran and Washington have struck understandings on many subjects in negotiations over a deal for ending the war, but warned that a final deal is not imminent. “It is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said during a weekly news briefing. “But to say that this means the signing of an agreement is imminent—no one can make such a claim,” he said, accusing Washington of shifting its positions.
In a final deal, Iran would also have to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the U.S. lifting its blockade of the waterway. If Iran agrees to lessen its nuclear enrichment, the U.S. would also be willing to ease sanctions.
The source said that most people agree on the basic ideas, and the Trump administration is pleased with how things are going, even though they are still working on finishing up the specifics. The official said that Iran seems more open to making deals now than it did before the military operation.
