War clouds loom again as U.S.-Iran conflict resumes; peace talks recede in horizon

Claiming Iran downed a U.S. helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, the Central command launched self-defence strikes against Iran. In response, Iran said it attacked the US's Fifth ⁠Fleet in Bahrain with ⁠drones, and an airbase in Jordan with missiles.

"U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces began launching self-defense strikes against Iran at 5 p.m. ET today at the Commander in Chief’s direction, in response to yesterday’s downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter. The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression," U.S. Central command said in a post on X. 

This development comes almost within 24 hours of U.S. President Donald Trump claiming that a powerful deal with Iran could be finalised within two to three days and that Iran and Israel have agreed not to fire at each other. Trump also said the Strait of Hormuz will be opened immediately after signing of the deal. 

“We’re in the final throes of a very good deal that will not allow in any way or form nuclear weapons. And the Strait will open up right away. It’ll open up immediately upon signing, which could be in two or three days,” Trump said on Tuesday while speaking to reporters.

On the recent exchange of fire between Iran and Israel Trump had said Benjamin Netanyahu was hit and he hit back, "I can’t blame him for that. Now they’ve called it quits. So they’re gonna leave each other alone for another week or something... They both agreed, through me, to stop.”

It may be noted that speaking to reporters Trump also said he could bomb Iran. 

On negotiations with Iran, Trump further added that the US could bomb Iran for weeks with ease, but that nothing will remain there afterward, and that the two sides were very close to reaching a “powerful deal”.

“We should be able to do it in one hour. I don’t think there are any sticking points. We’re very close to having a very good, strong, powerful deal. If we go and bomb, which we can do very easily if we want, and we spend another two or three weeks bombing, they’ll have nothing left whatsoever. But you won’t have this Strait open for months. If we do the bombing, a lot of people are going to be killed. Who wants to do that? I don’t.”