The United States, he said in a written statement, “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 US 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 trying to “emplace mines”.
Despite the strikes, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that a deal remained within reach.
But he remained firm on the Strait of Hormuz, the key oil and gas shipping route out which Iran is seeking 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.”
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.
This came as a top Iranian delegation was in Qatar and Tehran said it was finalising a 14-point framework for a deal on ending the war, which began with US-Israeli airstrikes on Feb 28.
“Iran’s frozen assets are to be released during the course of the negotiations, and this amount is estimated at US$24 billion in accordance with the 14-point memorandum of understanding,” Tasnim said.
