While Donald Trump stated in Washington that talks with Iran were progressing well and negotiations were moving in the right direction, missiles once again struck southern Iran. There is no longer any recognizable logic behind it. The American military confirmed strikes on Iranian missile positions as well as on boats that, according to US Central Command, had deployed mines in strategic waterways. Officially, the operations were described as acts of self defense. American forces, according to military statements, had responded to threats against their own troops and had exercised restraint despite the existing ceasefire. Yet this contradiction alone shows how fragile the situation has become. While peace negotiations are discussed publicly, military operations continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to American military officials, the strikes targeted positions near Bandar Abbas among other locations. The port city carries particular importance for Iran. It hosts not only a major Iranian naval base but also one of the key points at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. One of the world's most sensitive trade routes passes through that area. Before the war, roughly one fifth of global oil and gas traffic moved through this narrow passage. Iran still maintains significant influence there. For weeks, the consequences have continued generating uncertainty in energy markets and international trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n