AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Washington: The US military announced it had launched a series of strikes targeting facilities associated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) following Iranian assaults on American forces in Jordan. This move comes after President Donald Trump pledged to retaliate robustly against Iranian aggression.
According to Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) revealed in a statement that the strikes, conducted late on July 29, targeted military command centers, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance and defense sites, and Iran’s maritime capabilities. The operation, which lasted approximately two hours, aimed to mitigate threats posed by Iran and its allies to American troops, commercial vessels, and neighboring Gulf states.
The overnight military actions were a direct response to Iran’s admission of launching ballistic missiles at US bases in Jordan. Despite these aggressive exchanges, Washington maintains its pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the ongoing five-month conflict.
The collapse of a June memorandum of understanding, which was intended to halt hostilities for peace negotiations, has heightened concerns about the potential expansion of the war in the Middle East. Iran’s recent strikes in Egypt and US attacks on Iranian proxy factions in Iraq have further escalated tensions. Additionally, Tehran continues to target commercial shipping in the critical Strait of Hormuz.
Allison Minor, director of the Atlantic Council’s Project for Middle East Integration, highlighted the challenges faced by the US in navigating the escalating conflict. In an interview with RFE/RL, Minor noted, “The Iranian regime is making it clear that they will end this conflict on their own terms, and that they’re not afraid of continued confrontation with the US.”
While Iranian missile attacks in Jordan were thwarted, the Egyptian cabinet reported that a drone attack caused a fire at a US-owned gas storage tanker in Damietta’s Mediterranean port, marking the first attack in Egypt since the conflict began on February 28. Additionally, an Iranian strike in Kuwait resulted in significant damage to a building owned by a Chinese company, killing one worker.
Despite the volatile situation, Pakistan, which facilitated the now-defunct memorandum of understanding, stated on July 30 that discussions between Washington and Tehran were ongoing, albeit without providing specifics. Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi confirmed ongoing negotiations aimed at de-escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump, when questioned about the potential for a peace agreement with Iran, conveyed optimism in a Fox News interview, stating, “We’re going to let them keep talking.” He expressed confidence in the dialogue’s progress while also cautioning that military operations might resume if negotiations falter.