TEHRAN / WASHINGTON: Iran on Saturday questioned the seriousness of American diplomacy amid renewed naval clashes in the Gulf, while continuing to withhold a response to Washington’s latest negotiating position.
A relative calm was reported around the Strait of Hormuz after several days of intermittent flare-ups, as the United States awaited Iran’s reply to its latest proposal aimed at extending a fragile truce and initiating peace talks.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he expected Iran to respond to Washington’s latest deal proposal “supposedly tonight,” which is intended to extend the ceasefire and open negotiations.
However, there was no public confirmation of any response from Tehran, even as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi raised doubts over US intentions in a call with his Turkish counterpart.
According to Iran’s state-run ISNA news agency, Araghchi said: “The recent escalation of tensions by American forces in the Persian Gulf and their numerous actions in violating the ceasefire have added to suspicions about the motivation and seriousness of the American side in the path of diplomacy.”
He further added that ongoing developments were undermining trust in Washington’s diplomatic approach.
In a separate incident on Friday, a US fighter jet reportedly fired on and disabled two Iranian-flagged tankers, which Washington accused of challenging its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
An Iranian military official told local media that Tehran’s navy had responded to what it described as “American terrorism” with strikes, adding that “the clashes have now ceased.”
The latest escalation followed earlier tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key international shipping route where Iran has been accused of attempting to exert control to impose tolls on foreign vessels and gain economic leverage.
Meanwhile, a CIA assessment suggested that Iran would not face severe economic pressure from a US blockade of its ports for at least four more months, according to a US official cited in reports, indicating limited American leverage.
However, a senior intelligence official rejected these claims, calling them false, and stated that the blockade was already causing significant economic damage by disrupting trade and revenue flows.
In Bahrain, the Interior Ministry announced that security forces had dismantled an alleged organisation linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and arrested 41 suspects.
Bahrain, which hosts a major US military base, said the group was linked to espionage cases and had shown sympathy for Iranian military actions. The ministry said the network was dismantled following investigations into foreign-linked espionage activities.
Separately, the United Kingdom announced the deployment of the warship HMS Dragon to the Middle East as part of preparations for a possible multinational mission to secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
A spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defence said HMS Dragon’s positioning was part of “prudent planning” and that the UK, alongside France, was preparing for joint efforts to ensure maritime security once conditions allow.
In Lebanon, Israeli air strikes continued despite a three-week-old ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, killing eight people in southern regions, according to local authorities.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported multiple strikes across southern areas, including Saksakiyeh, while the health ministry said seven people, including a girl, were killed and 15 others injured in one attack.
Another strike in Nabatieh reportedly killed a Syrian man and his 12-year-old daughter. Officials said the girl survived initially but required emergency surgery after being critically injured.
The Israeli military said it had struck more than 85 Hezbollah-linked sites over the past 24 hours.
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah warned of what he called “a new phase” in the conflict, stating that the group would not accept a return to conditions before March 2.
Hezbollah also claimed responsibility for a drone attack targeting Israeli troops in northern Israel, saying it was in response to ongoing strikes, and reported additional rocket and drone attacks on Israeli military positions inside Lebanon.
On the other hand, US Central Command stated that since April 13, 58 commercial vessels had been redirected and four others disabled following the naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly warned that it could target US installations in the region and “enemy ships” if Iranian tankers were attacked, according to Iranian media reports.