Table of Contents
Topline
The U.S. military conducted fresh strikes against Iran—targeting a drone launch site—while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed they had targeted an American airbase in the region early on Thursday, as tensions between the two sides spiked once again amid ongoing efforts to secure a deal to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
People cross a street near a billboard on the facade of a building depicting the Strait of Hormuz with a caption in Persian reading “Forever in Iran’s Hand”, at Vanak Square in Tehran.
AFP via Getty Images
Key Facts
Late on Wednesday, officials told various outlets the U.S. military launched strikes targeting a drone control station in the port city of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran and shot down four attack drones over the Strait of Hormuz.
This is the second such instance of U.S. military action in the region this week—which officials have deemed as self-defense strikes—following the Central Command’s strikes on missile launch strikes and mine-laying boats on Monday.
In a statement shared with state media, the IRGC acknowledged the U.S. strikes, calling them an “aggressive…intrusion,” and claimed to have targeted the U.S. airbase from which the attacks originated.
The statement didn’t specify which airbase was targeted and U.S. officials have not commented on this.
In a statement, the military of Kuwait—which hosts several U.S. bases—said its air defenses engaged incoming missile and drone attacks on Thursday.
It’s unclear whether the strikes caused any damage to the U.S.-controlled bases.
How Has This Impacted Oil Prices?
The global oil benchmark Brent Crude futures soared above $98 per barrel early on Thursday after reports of the attacks emerged, before paring gains. The index had fallen to $94 per barrel a day earlier on hopes of a quick deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate also briefly crossed $92 per barrel after having fallen below the $90 mark a day earlier.
What Has The White House Said About The Iran Deal?
Since the start of the week, U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have said that a “solid” deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the conflict was on the table and they were waiting for Iran’s response. However, President Donald Trump has insisted that he is not in a rush and will not agree to what he deems a bad deal. During a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Trump appeared to dig in further, saying he is concerned about making a quick deal and is not worried about how it will impact the midterms. “They thought they were going to out-wait me, you know. ‘We’ll out-wait him. He’s got the midterms.’ I don’t care about the midterms.” The president also appeared to suggest that Iran itself was in dire straits and was “negotiating on fumes.” Both Trump and Rubio have signaled that if the U.S. does not get a desirable deal, it is prepared to resume the war and force the strait to reopen.
Are Ships Passing Through The Strait Of Hormuz?
Optimism about a deal earlier this week also came amid reports that multiple large ships carrying crude and natural gas successfully crossed the strait, including an Iraqi supertanker bound for China. However, Bloomberg reported that passage through the blockaded waterway slowed to a crawl once again on Wednesday as peace talks remained in limbo. According to the report, only a few “mostly Iran-linked vessels” passed through on Wednesday.
Further Reading
Rubio Says ‘Solid’ US-Iran Deal Could Happen ‘Maybe Today’ As Global Markets Rise
Iran Threatens Retaliation After New U.S. Strikes—Hours After Trump Suggests Progress On Peace Deal (Forbes)
Rubio Says ‘Solid’ US-Iran Deal Could Happen ‘Maybe Today’ As Global Markets Rise (Forbes)
