US Central Command denied Iranian state media reports of firing warning missiles and drones at two US Navy destroyers. Concurrently, Iran's Foreign Minister stated no tangible progress in peace talks and warned of US bases being legitimate targets. Iran also allowed UN monitors at its Bushehr nuclear plant.
U.S. Central Command has denied reports from Iranian state media that Iranian military forces fired "warning missiles" and drones at two U.S. Navy destroyers transiting the Gulf of Oman. The Iranian statement claimed the U.S. destroyers retreated towards the Indian Ocean. Concurrently, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that "no tangible progress" has been achieved in peace talks between the U.S. and Iran, warning that U.S. bases in the region are legitimate targets if used for aggression against Iran. Despite the stalled negotiations, President Trump indicated that ceasefire talks are in their "final" stages. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, also signaled defiance, stating that the country's enemies had been dealt a "decisive blow." In a separate development, Iran permitted UN atomic watchdog monitors to visit its Bushehr nuclear power plant this week, while reportedly stonewalling inspectors' demands regarding its enriched uranium stockpile. The conflict is approaching its 100-day milestone since the initiation of Operation Epic Fury. American forces have counted nearly 1,000 commercial vessel transits in and out of the Strait of Hormuz in the last two months, according to an official familiar with US Central Command operations.
The conflicting reports highlight ongoing tensions and potential for escalation in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil supply, while diplomatic efforts remain stalled.