US fires on Iranian tankers as peace talks hang in balance

A US warplane disabled two Iranian tankers to enforce a port blockade on Friday, after Washington’s top diplomat showed he was awaiting Tehran’s response to the latest proposed deal to end the Gulf conflict. US Central Command showed an F/A-18 Super Hornet had used precision munitions on the two ships to prevent them from continuing to Iran, as Iranian media reported “sporadic clashes” with US vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest incidents came after an overnight exchange of fire that triggered fears of a breakdown in the Gulf ceasefire, and after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed reporters in Rome that Washington hoped to receive Tehran’s answer to the US proposal later on Friday. Rubio indicated Iran must not control the Strait of Hormuz, where the flare-ups took place. “We’re expecting a response from them today at some point… I hope it’s a serious offer, I really do.

” Washington has sent Iran, via Pakistani mediators, a proposal to extend the truce in the Gulf to allow talks on a final settlement of the conflict launched 10 weeks ago with US-Israeli strikes on Tehran. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei indicated Friday that the proposal was still “under review, and once a final decision is reached. ”, from the ISNA news agency.

Two Saudi sources, meanwhile, told AFP the kingdom had refused to allow the US military to use its airspace or bases for an operation to force open a passage for commercial shipping in the strategic strait. – ‘They trifled with us’ – The night before, US Central Command indicated Iran had launched missiles, drones and small boats at three US warships transiting the Hormuz, but that none were hit and American forces had destroyed the incoming threats and retaliated against land bases in Iran.