Middle East Latest Update: Trump Approves Strike Plan on Iran, Iran Believes U.S. Will Sabotage Diplomacy
BlockBeats News, July 8th, a summary of the latest developments in the Middle East:
Conflict Update
Trump approved a strike on Iran.
US officials stated that the strike on Iran was a "punitive action, not a proportional response," and described the action as "not ending anytime soon."
A US official mentioned that the strike carried out on Tuesday against Iran, in both scale and intensity, was four to five times larger than the strike ten days ago.
The US revoked a license authorizing Iran's oil sales, with related winding-down transactions allowed to continue until July 17th at midnight Eastern Time. This move is said to be a response to Iran's recent firing on three merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Some merchant ships navigated without coordination, shut down or tampered with AIS signals, obstructing safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. It urged regional countries and shipping companies to refrain from any actions that violate the memorandum.
US Central Command stated that USCENTCOM forces have initiated a series of powerful strikes against Iran in response to Iran's targeting and attacks on civilian-operated commercial shipping in international waters.
Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Condemned the US Treasury Department's retraction of temporary waivers related to Iran's oil sales sanctions.
US-Iran Negotiations
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi: If the threat persists, final agreement negotiations will not start, please abide by commitments.
Iran's Supreme Leader's Advisor Raeisi: It is quite obvious that the US will lead the negotiations to failure.
A Lebanese diplomatic source stated that Lebanon rejected holding the sixth round of Lebanon-Israel talks in Rome, insisting that negotiations should continue in Washington.
Strait of Hormuz
A liquefied natural gas tanker was attacked in the Gulf of Oman.
Multiple explosions occurred in the southern Iranian port city of Sirik.
Explosions were reported in southern Iran's Qeshm Island and the port of Abadan.
UK Maritime Agency: Threat level in the Strait of Hormuz raised to "critical."
