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US Downs Iranian Drones Near Strait of Hormuz Amid Deal Hopes
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Technology

US Downs Iranian Drones Near Strait of Hormuz Amid Deal Hopes

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • The US military intercepted multiple Iranian drones targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.
  • The incident occurred as both the US and Iran indicated a deal to end a regional conflict was nearing completion, mediated by Pakistan.
  • Despite the drone interception and ongoing disagreements over the deal's terms, officials expressed optimism that an agreement would be signed soon.

The United States announced Saturday that its forces downed multiple Iranian drones that were targeting commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. This interception happened just hours after both Iran and the US suggested a deal to end a Middle East conflict was closer than ever.

US forces have downed all of them in recent hours as traffic flow through the strait continues unimpeded

— US Central Command (CENTCOM)Describing the interception of Iranian drones targeting commercial ships.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on X that Iran had launched "multiple one-way attack drones in an attempt to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz." CENTCOM confirmed that all drones were downed and that traffic through the vital maritime route remains unimpeded. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical passage for oil and gas exports from the Gulf.

The Strait of Hormuz -- a key maritime trade route for oil and gas from the Gulf -- remains open for transit

— US Central Command (CENTCOM)Reassuring about the continued accessibility of the Strait of Hormuz.

Weeks of negotiations, mediated by Pakistan, have been fraught with tension. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, expressed optimism about the "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding," suggesting a deal was within reach. However, disagreements persist, with conflicting accounts from Tehran and Washington regarding the terms. Araghchi detailed that the agreement includes lifting the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and unspecified adjustments to the administration of the Strait of Hormuz. He also stated that Iran's enriched uranium should be diluted within the country.

The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding has never been closer

— Abbas AraghchiIranian foreign minister expressing optimism about the mediated deal.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei asserted that an agreement had been reached on most points, countering accusations of bad faith from former US President Trump. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed a final peace deal text had been reached, calling peace "never been as close as it is now," despite acknowledging "incessant misinformation." A senior US official estimated the likelihood of signing the agreement at 80-85 percent, though not yet 100 percent. Switzerland has offered to host the signing ceremony.

The only way to deal with the country's enriched uranium -- which Washington alleges is part of a nuclear weapons program -- is to dilute it inside Iran

— Abbas AraghchiDetailing Iran's proposed approach to its enriched uranium.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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