Iran and US exchange strikes, violating Middle East peace deal
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
Iran accused the United States of violating the peace deal for the Middle East war after the US launched strikes on Iranian territory, to which Tehran responded with attacks on US targets in the Gulf. This exchange of fire followed a US accusation that Iran attacked a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command stated its strikes on Iranian missile and drone sites and coastal radar positions were a response to "unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces" that "clearly violated the ceasefire." Iran's foreign ministry called the US attacks a "blatant violation" of the memorandum of understanding to end the war. Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed to have struck US sites in the Gulf region in retaliation, warning of a broader response if aggression continued. Bahrain's foreign ministry reported being targeted by Iranian drones and condemned the attacks. Despite the escalation, oil prices fell on hopes that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz would recover. Separately, Israel and Lebanon signed an agreement with the US to pave the way for peace on their front, which includes Lebanese soldiers taking control of two areas occupied by Israel and a process to disarm Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the framework as a victory against Iran, while Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called it a "first step." Hezbollah supporters protested the agreement in Beirut. The UN nuclear watchdog warned that any final US-Iran settlemen
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