US launches new attacks on Iran amid ongoing diplomatic talks

The U.S. military initiated a new series of attacks against Iran on Thursday evening, Danish time, as confirmed by the U.S. military's Central Command (Centcom) via X. This marks the fifth consecutive night of U.S. strikes aimed at further degrading Iran's military capabilities.

Despite the ongoing military actions, U.S. President Donald Trump remains receptive to a diplomatic resolution of the conflict. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the president, stated at a White House briefing that discussions between the U.S. and Iran are continuing. "They have told the president that they still want to make a deal. We are talking to them, but again, the president is not going to let them shoot at ships in the strait without paying the consequences for it," she said, according to AFP.

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They have told the president that they still want to make a deal. We are talking to them, but again, the president is not going to let them shoot at ships in the strait without paying the consequences for it.

Leavitt explained that the recent attacks stem from Iran's alleged failure to adhere to the terms of a memorandum of understanding signed between the two nations in mid-June. This agreement was intended to pave the way for an end to the conflict that erupted after the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes in Iran on February 28. Both Iran and the U.S. have accused each other of violating the ceasefire multiple times since the memorandum was signed. The U.S. insists that Iran must not target commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a violation Leavitt described as a "tragic decision" for Iran.

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According to the memorandum of understanding, which they have signed, they are not allowed to shoot at commercial vessels sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, and unfortunately, they have made the tragic decision for them to do so.