Iranian drones shot down in anticipation of agreement
At
the same time as an agreement between Iran and the United States is
said to be close, new hostilities flare up in the Strait of Hormuz.
Several Iranian drones that allegedly tried to attack ships have been shot down, the US military command Centcom says.
The
US military's shooting down of the drones comes just hours after
reports of new progress in negotiations between the US and Iran.
Iran
is said to have fired “multiple attack drones in an attempt to disrupt
commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” Centcom reported on X,
claiming that the strait, which is so important for world trade, is now
open to traffic – despite Iran maintaining a blockade of the waters
since the start of the war.
The escalation comes despite both the US and Iran sending signals that an agreement between the countries could be close.
Iranian
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on state television on Friday
that nothing has been signed but that an agreement “has never been
closer than now”.
US President Donald Trump posted a screenshot
of Araghchi’s statement on social media and has hinted that an agreement
could be finalized in the coming days, according to The New York Times.
Switzerland has offered to host the signing of the agreement.
However,
there are different reports from the countries about what the agreement
would entail. Iran claims that it will be allowed to continue enriching
uranium and maintain control over shipping through the Strait of
Hormuz. However, a senior US official told the AP that there are reports
that Tehran's nuclear program will be dismantled and the Strait of
Hormuz will be completely opened.
The Iranian news agency Mehr
also reports that Iran will get back $24 billion in assets frozen due to
sanctions, something that the US denies.
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