Khamenei raises stakes in Iran’s war vs US; says America ‘no longer’ has safe haven in Mideast
US Central Command said the strikes targeted missile launch sites and mine-laying boats. Spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins said that the action was taken “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces” and emphasized that the army “exercised restraint during the ongoing ceasefire.”
Also read: US military says it carried out ‘self-defense’ strikes on Iran, including missile launch sites
The developments come even as US President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran were “progressing well” amid ongoing military tensions in the region.
push ibrahim
Trump also sought to broaden the scope of any potential deal with Iran, saying countries including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Qatar should join the Abraham Accords as part of a broader regional solution.
In his post on social media, Trump said that it should be “mandatory” for these countries to sign the US-brokered agreements initiated during his first term to normalize relations with Israel.
“After all the work the United States has done to put together this very complex puzzle, it should be mandatory for all of these countries to sign the Abraham Accords at least simultaneously,” Trump wrote.
He said he raised the offer with regional leaders during talks on Saturday, adding that “one or two” countries would agree to withdraw. The Abraham Accords were first signed by Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates in 2020, and were later expanded to include Sudan, Morocco and Kazakhstan. The agreements were framed by the Trump administration as a platform for deeper diplomatic, economic and security cooperation with Israel.
Also read: Iran to open Strait of Hormuz 30 days after peace deal
Regional barriers
But Trump’s latest offer risks complicating negotiations further; especially because some of the countries he named have long-standing conditions or sensitivities related to relations with Israel.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly argued that any normalization with Israel would require a reliable path towards a Palestinian state. Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, similarly linked its position to the Palestinian issue.
Islamabad-based analyst Syed Mohammad Ali said despite Trump’s words, Pakistan’s stance has not changed.
Masood Khan, Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US, said the inclusion of the Abraham Accords in the Iran talks adds a “completely new dimension” to the diplomatic process because the issue is “not on the agenda”.
“We will see over time how useful the offer can be,” Khan said, but added that diplomacy was still active and Pakistan remained at the center of ongoing regional discussions.
The push for a broader diplomatic realignment comes as Trump faces pressure from some Republicans demanding a tougher stance on Iran even as negotiations continue.
