Tehran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for nearly a third of the world’s oil and natural gas supply, and attacked US military bases and other targets near the Gulf.
President Donald Trump threatened to rain “hell” on Tehran if it does not make a deal and reopen Strait of Hormuz by his deadline of Tuesday, April 7, when he praised the US special forces that he saved the plane in a dangerous mission from deep inside Iran.
The The US and Israel have hit Iran with missiles and airstrikes for more than five weeks to destroy what they said was an imminent threat from the country’s nuclear weapons program, ballistic missile weapons and support for regional militancy.
Tehran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for nearly a third of the world’s oil and natural gas supply, and attacked US military bases and other targets near the Gulf.
Explosions rocked Tehran on Monday morning, April 6, and a US-Israeli attack on a residential building in the south of the city killed at least 13 people, an official told Iranian state media. Reuters could not confirm the report.
In a profanity-laced post on his Social Truth platform, Trump on Sunday, April 5, threatened further attacks on Iran’s energy and transportation infrastructure that critics say would constitute a war crime.
“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all rolled into one, in Iran,” he said.
“There will be no such thing!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to God. President DONALD J. TRUMP”
In the kind of mixed message that has surprised supporters, foes and financial markets alike, Trump told Fox News on Sunday that Iran was negotiating, and a deal was possible by Monday.
Later Sunday, Axios reported the US, Iran and regional negotiators are discussing the terms of a possible 45-day ceasefire that could lead to a permanent end to the war, citing four US, Israeli and regional sources familiar with the talks.
Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. The White House and the US State Department did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
The negotiators were negotiating a two-phase agreement, the report said. The first phase will be a 45-day ceasefire; the second would be an agreement to end the war.
Iran condemns the United States for its ‘indifference’, in the Gulf
Tehran wants a cessation of hostilities and its parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf condemned Trump’s threats, saying he is being misled by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Your reckless actions are sending America into living HELL for every single family, and our entire region will burn because you insist on following Netanyahu’s orders,” he posted Sunday on X.
Showing that it was still at war despite the US and Israeli attacks, Iran expanded its attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure, launching drone and missile attacks on petrochemical facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
The Revolutionary Guards also said on Sunday they rammed a ship linked to Israel in Dubai’s Jebel Ali port.
In Kuwait, drones caused fires and caused “significant material damage” at petrochemical plants operated by partners of the state oil company Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, the company said.
The attacks underscored Iran’s ability to carry out cross-border attacks and disrupt infrastructure in many Gulf states, exposing vulnerabilities in energy and maritime facilities.
Also in Israel, media showed search and rescue teams digging through debris in the northern city of Haifa on Sunday after an Iranian missile hit a residential building. Israeli paramedics said nine people were being treated, and Israeli media later reported that rescuers had recovered two dead people from the rubble.
Commando operation
Trump announced the rescue of the plane earlier Sunday, describing the operation as “one of the most daring missions” in American history.
The airman, the weapons officer of the F-15 that was shot down on Friday, was injured but “is going to be fine,” Trump said in a message to X. The pilot was rescued early.
Under cover of darkness, US commandos crept deep into Iran, undetected, scaled a 7,000-foot (2,100-meter) ridge and rescued the stranded American weapons expert before dawn on Sunday.
Two MC-130 fighter jets that had been transporting about 100 special operations forces to the rugged region south of Tehran suffered a technical failure and were unable to take off, a US official told Reuters.
Their commanders made a risky decision, and ordered additional aircraft to fly to Iran to eliminate the group in waves.
The rescue force was phased out, and the US military destroyed the disabled MC-130s and four additional helicopters inside Iran rather than risk leaving sensitive equipment behind.
Iran said several US aircraft were destroyed during the operation.
The war, which began with US and Israeli airstrikes across Iran on February 28, has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people, especially in Iran and Lebanon.
Israeli airstrikes killed another 11 people in Lebanon on Sunday, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. – Rappler.com
