Washington, May 28 : US forces carried out fresh defensive strikes on an Iranian military facility on Wednesday after intercepting Iranian attack drones near the Strait of Hormuz, according to US officials.
Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said US Central Command forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones that posed a threat in the strategic waterway. US forces also targeted an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was reportedly preparing to launch a fifth drone.
The latest strikes came as US President Donald Trump said Iran was “negotiating on fumes” and insisted that the upcoming midterm elections would not pressure him into rushing a deal to end the nearly three-month-old conflict that has unsettled the global economy.
Speaking at the start of a Cabinet meeting, Trump expressed confidence that a settlement with Tehran was close. He reiterated claims made over the weekend that the two sides had “largely negotiated” a deal, though discussions remain unresolved on several key issues.
Trump said his administration was seeking an agreement that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and allow the United States to claim that Iran’s nuclear capabilities had been significantly weakened.
“They want very much to make a deal,” Trump said. “So far, they haven’t gotten there. We’re not satisfied with it, but we will be — either that or we’ll have to just finish the job.”
Despite his optimism, negotiations remain complicated. Earlier this week, the Pentagon confirmed that US forces carried out what it described as “defensive” strikes on missile launch sites and minelaying boats in southern Iran. Tehran condemned the action as a sign of “bad faith and unreliability,” and Wednesday’s strikes are expected to further strain talks.
Trump also dismissed suggestions that domestic political pressures were shaping his Iran strategy.
“They thought they were gonna outwait me. He’s got the midterms,” Trump said. “I don’t care about the midterms.”
Meanwhile, some Republican leaders have expressed concern that the emerging deal could resemble the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated under former President Barack Obama, which Trump scrapped during his first term.
According to regional and US officials familiar with the talks, Iran may agree to surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium in exchange for sanctions relief. Details regarding the transfer or dilution of the uranium are still under discussion.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimates that Iran currently possesses around 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent purity, close to weapons-grade levels.
Another unresolved issue is whether any ceasefire agreement would include Israel’s military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran has insisted Lebanon be covered under any truce arrangement, while Israel has continued military operations against Hezbollah targets.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week that Israel was “deepening its operation” in Lebanon, with clashes continuing along parts of southern Lebanon.
Trump also renewed calls for countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Pakistan to join the Abraham Accords, the US-brokered agreements aimed at normalising ties with Israel. However, several Middle Eastern nations remain hesitant, particularly due to the unresolved Palestinian issue.
Regional analysts and diplomats say Gulf nations support efforts to avoid further escalation but remain wary that sanctions relief could allow Iran to rebuild its military capabilities and strengthen proxy groups in the region.
