A new exchange of fire between Iran and the United States raises new questions about the future of ceasefire talks, despite recent hints by US President Donald Trump that an agreement could be reached within days.
Overnight, Iran reportedly launched seven ballistic missiles and drones toward Bahrain and Kuwait, triggering air defense responses throughout the Gulf region.
The US military said it intercepted the projectiles and later struck Iranian surveillance and radar sites, including facilities in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to US Central Command, the sites were targeted after Iranian drones and missiles posed a “direct threat to regional maritime traffic,” US Central Command said on social media.
It confirmed that it had struck radar sites, including an island in the strait, “to defend against further attacks.”
Iran said it targeted Kuwait’s Ali Al Salem Air Base, which hosts American forces, and the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
No casualties among Americans have been reported so far, according to Reuters.
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Earlier this week, Trump indicated the possibility of reaching an agreement by the end of the week, and said Friday that the United States would quickly end the conflict.
Reggie Cecchini, Global News’ correspondent in Washington, said messages from Tehran indicate that negotiations remain at an impasse, with several key issues remaining unresolved despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
He added: “The messages coming from Tehran indicate that the negotiations have reached a complete deadlock because there are various issues that still need to be resolved.”
The Iranian nuclear program remains one of the biggest sticking points.
Trump has repeatedly insisted that any agreement must prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, while Iranian officials have indicated that nuclear issues are not part of the current discussions.
Both sides continue to publicly demand progress, but it remains unclear whether negotiators are closer to a final agreement, Széchenyi said.
Rising energy prices linked to instability in the Strait of Hormuz have contributed to concerns about inflation in the United States, Canada, and globally, creating additional challenges and “political risks.”
Energy analysts have previously warned that continued instability around the Strait of Hormuz could put upward pressure on global oil prices, directly impacting costs for Canadian consumers.
Despite concerns that the ceasefire could collapse, Trump told reporters on Friday that “the situation with Iran appears to be going well.” “We will get out of Iran very quickly and it will be very strong one way or another, whether it is on a piece of paper or the very hard way,” he said at an event.
– With files from The Canadian Press
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