Tensions Rise as US Delays Strikes on Iran Amid Airstrike Reports
US Extends Deadline for Iran Amid Airstrike Claims
Shortly after President of the United States extended the timeline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, reports emerged from Iranian media indicating that energy facilities in Isfahan and Khorramshahr had been targeted. A news agency affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard reported that two energy sites were hit by airstrikes early Tuesday.
According to Fars news agency, a gas administration building and a gas reduction facility in Isfahan sustained damage, affecting both the structures and nearby residences. Additionally, a projectile reportedly struck near a gas pipeline associated with a power plant in Khorramshahr, located close to the borders of Iraq and Kuwait. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties from the incident in Khorramshahr.
Neither the US nor Israel has claimed responsibility for the strikes, and it remains uncertain whether the sites were specifically targeted or if they were collateral damage from strikes on other locations.
This development follows President Trump's assertion that US representatives have been in discussions with a "respected" Iranian leader, suggesting that Iran is interested in negotiating a deal. Trump mentioned that US envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner had met with an Iranian leader, although he did not disclose the identity of this individual, stating that the US has not engaged with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
Trump emphasized that the US aims to recover Iran's enriched uranium and halt its nuclear program as part of any agreement, insisting, "We want to see no nuclear bomb, no nuclear weapon. Not even close to it." However, Iranian officials have refuted claims of negotiations, with Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf asserting that the US leader has retreated "following Iran's firm warning" and labeling the reports as "fake news" intended to manipulate financial and oil markets.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Washington and Tehran are communicating through intermediaries. An Egyptian official revealed that messages were exchanged over the weekend via Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan, aimed at preventing strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure and the broader region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel will persist in its operations against Iran and Lebanon, even as the US contemplates a ceasefire. He remarked, "There's more to come. We will protect our vital interests in any situation."