In the past 24 hours, the U.S. military targeted an empty oil tanker with a Hellfire missile to prevent it from reaching Iran's oil terminal on Kharg Island. U.S. Central Command stated that the ship's crew ignored multiple warnings from U.S. forces. In retaliation, Iran conducted drone and missile attacks on the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and Kuwait's main airport. The U.S. reported that all attacks were successfully intercepted and did not hit their targets.
Kuwait's Foreign Ministry confirmed that an Iranian drone struck its airport, resulting in one death and injuries to others. During a Senate hearing, Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed, "the war's over now," a statement met with skepticism from Senator Cory Booker and Senator Tim Kaine, who emphasized that hostilities continue between Iran and the U.S.
Rubio attributed the stalled negotiations with Iran to divisions within its government, particularly between political leaders and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He stated that if negotiations were left to the political class, a deal could be reached quickly. Rubio also mentioned that Iran's economy is suffering, suggesting that they might be more desperate for a resolution than the U.S.
Rubio outlined conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing the need for Iran to commit to specific negotiations regarding its nuclear program. He noted that talks with Iran are complex and require intermediaries, but expressed optimism about the potential for progress in negotiations.
