US launches fresh strikes on Iranian military site amid nuclear talks

The United States carried out fresh overnight strikes inside Iran targeting what Washington described as a military site posing a threat to American forces and commercial shipping in the region according to multiple US media reportsThe strikes marked another escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran even as both sides continue indirect negotiations over Iranrsquos nuclear programme and regional security issuesUS says strikes were defensive in natureAccording to CBS News citing a US official American forces also intercepted drones launched from Iran during the latest confrontationThe official described the operation as ldquodefensiverdquo and maintained that the existing ceasefire arrangement between the United States and Iran was still considered active despite the overnight military actionThe US has not yet publicly disclosed the precise location of the targeted site or the extent of the damage caused by the strikes However the development is likely to add further uncertainty to already fragile diplomatic efforts between the two countriesExplosions reported near Bandar AbbasMeanwhile Iranian media reported explosions near the strategic port city of Bandar Abbas located along the Strait of Hormuz mdash one of the worldrsquos most critical oil shipping routesIranrsquos Fars news agency said three explosions were heard east of Bandar Abbas at around 130 am local time on ThursdayThe report added that Iranian air defence systems were activated shortly after the explosions Authorities were investigating the source of the blasts though no official confirmation was immediately issued regarding the target or possible casualtiesThe Strait of Hormuz remains a strategically important waterway through which a significant portion of global oil exports passes Any military escalation in the area often raises concerns about disruptions to international energy supplies and maritime securityTrump warns of further military actionThe latest strikes came hours after US President Donald Trump said his administration would not rush into a nuclear agreement with Iran due to domestic political pressure linked to the upcoming US midterm electionsSpeaking during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday Trump claimed Iran believed it could delay negotiations in the hope that political pressures would weaken Washingtonrsquos stanceldquoThey thought they were going to outwait merdquo Trump said ldquoI donrsquot care about the midtermsrdquoTrump also indicated that the United States remained dissatisfied with the current terms being discussed during negotiations and warned that military action could resume if an agreement acceptable to Washington was not reachedldquoWersquore not satisfied with it but we will berdquo Trump said ldquoEither that or wersquoll have to just finish the jobrdquoWhite House dismisses reported draft agreementThe White House earlier rejected an Iranian media report claiming that a draft understanding between the two countries had already been preparedAccording to Iranrsquos staterun IRIB TV the reported draft framework allegedly included the withdrawal of US forces from areas near Iran and the lifting of restrictions affecting Iranian portsHowever the White House dismissed the report as ldquoa complete fabricationrdquoTrump also ruled out the possibility of offering sanctions relief to Iran in exchange for Tehran giving up its stockpile of highly enriched uraniumldquoNo not at all Not sanctions reliefrdquo Trump said when asked whether sanctions relief was part of the current framework under discussionWith inputs from IANS