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Trump Awaits “Acceptable Proposal” From Iran as Tensions Rise in the Strait of Hormuz

Explosions in southern Iran, heightened military readiness in Israel and the United States, and a Qatari initiative for de-escalation underscore the fragility of negotiations at a critical regional juncture.

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Diplomatic contacts between the United States and Iran continue amid mounting security concerns in the Gulf region. While Washington and Tehran both signal progress in talks, planned military activity and deadly incidents near the Strait of Hormuz are keeping escalation scenarios firmly in play.

Statements from Washington and Tehran

US President Donald Trump said Iran is negotiating seriously with the United States and expressed hope that Tehran would submit a proposal that would be acceptable. At the same time, Iran’s chief negotiator, Ali Larijani, also referred publicly to progress in discussions.

Despite these statements, concerns persist due to Iran’s scheduled naval exercise involving live fire in the Strait of Hormuz, where the US Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, is within operational range.

Explosions near the Strait of Hormuz

Questions have been raised following explosions in two cities in southern Iran, near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, which resulted in six deaths and dozens of injuries.

In the strategically important port of Bandar Abbas, one explosion left a four-year-old girl dead and injured 14 others. Iranian authorities attributed the incident to a gas leak. The same cause was cited for an explosion in the city of Ahvaz, where five people were killed.

Tehran denied reports suggesting that the incidents targeted the commander of the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Israel has denied any involvement in the explosions.

Security posture in Israel and the United States

Israeli officials have spoken of a heightened state of alert, according to reporting by ERTnews correspondent Adamantia Lioliou in Tel Aviv. A security council meeting was held on Friday with the participation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The US ambassador to Israel, speaking on Israeli television, said that President Trump never makes empty threats and would not disappoint the Iranian people who are protesting against the regime.

An online post from circles aligned with the US president claimed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is in a state of panic, recalling that the United States has designated the elite Iranian force as a terrorist organisation.

Planned naval drills and international participation

Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported that the planned live-fire naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz will involve not only the Iranian navy but also forces from Russia and China.

According to the report, units of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are training in asymmetric warfare operations, including sabotage attacks using fast boats, as well as maritime and aerial drones.

Warnings from Iranian leadership

Iranian army chief Amir Hatami warned the United States and Israel that Iran’s forces are on high alert and insisted that the Islamic Republic’s nuclear programme cannot be eliminated.

At the same time, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the Islamic Republic has never sought war. He accused the leaders of the United States, Israel and Europe of exploiting Iran’s economic difficulties, inciting unrest and providing the population with the means to “dismember the nation”.

A diplomatic initiative led by Qatar aimed at de-escalation is currently under way.

Source: ertnews.gr

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#TRUMP #USA #GLOBE #WIDER WORLD #IRAN CRISIS

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