Islamabad, July 21: Diplomats sought Tuesday to salvage the collapsed interim deal between Iran and the United States even as both countries continued to launch attacks in a 10th day of renewed fighting.
Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni’s visit to Pakistan, a key mediator in the conflict, pointed to intensified diplomatic efforts, but it was unclear what new arrangement might be reached to end the war.
Both sides have targeted civilian infrastructure in the region relied on by millions of people. A barrage of US strikes hasn’t compelled Tehran to loosen its grip on the strait.
The US continued its airstrikes on the Islamic Republic early Tuesday, and Iran attacked a tanker in the strait, forcing the crew to abandon the ship.
Iran kept up its attacks against US allies in the region, and on Tuesday afternoon, sirens in Bahrain and Kuwait warned residents of incoming projectiles. The escalation has pushed oil prices higher in recent weeks.
Iran begins meetings in Pakistan
Momeni met Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door negotiations. Momeni later met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Pakistan’s political leadership and Munir, who serves as both the chief of army staff and defence forces, played a key role in brokering last month’s interim agreement between the United States and Iran.
Islamabad has been working to persuade both sides to return to the negotiating table to resolve outstanding issues under the June memorandum of understanding. Authorities did not immediately release details of the meeting, which came as Tehran continued its attacks on Gulf Arab allies of the US.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the US remained open to negotiating with Iran but that “it has to be real.”
US strikes come as ships attacked
The US military’s Central Command said Tuesday it targeted “Iranian military command centres, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and air defence systems.” It released more footage of bombings that targeted sites in Iran.
“American forces remain postured and prepared to hold Iran accountable for unwarranted aggression toward civilian mariners seeking to freely and openly transit the strait,” the command said.
Iranian state media reported that explosions were heard in Fars, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, and Sistan and Baluchistan provinces.
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said a tanker came under attack early Tuesday in the strait off Oman, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel.
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard claimed the attack, as well as two other attacks on ships Monday in the waterway.
Iran strikes US allies around region
Tehran also hit US-allied countries throughout the Middle East. Jordan’s military said Tuesday that Iran targeted it with five drones and three missiles, all of which were shot down. Bahrain sounded its missile alert sirens Tuesday afternoon as another Iranian barrage targeted the island kingdom, which is home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet.
The Kuwaiti government said Iran had struck desalination and power plants for a fourth straight day on Monday night. Authorities said the attacks sparked fires and caused damage.
Some 90 per cent of Kuwait’s drinking water comes from desalination, making the attacks a matter of life and death for the tiny nation. (AP)
