U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) intercepted six Iranian ballistic missiles fired toward Kuwait and Bahrain after American forces struck Iranian radar sites, as tensions continue to rise amid stalled negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Fox News reported from Dubai that Iran launched seven ballistic missiles toward the Gulf allies after CENTCOM forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones and carried out retaliatory strikes on radar sites in Goruk and on Qeshm Island.
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CENTCOM announced that six of the seven missiles were intercepted, while the seventh failed to reach its target.
Trump said over the weekend he hoped that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is “more rational” than his predecessor, and reiterated previous claims that a peace deal is “very close.”
“Younger. I think more rational,” Trump told NBC’s “Meet the Press” in an interview that aired Sunday, per the New York Post.
The president also dismissed criticism that he has led the US into another “endless war” and prioritized the option of forcibly seizing Iran’s enriched uranium.
“Injured. He’s pretty badly injured. So there’s a certain bravery there,” Trump said of Mojtaba, who was caught in an Israeli strike that killed his father on Feb. 28.
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He has not been seen in public since.
Trump has remained firm that any agreement with Iran must address the regime’s stockpile of uranium enriched to 60%, a level that experts note is only a short technical step from weapons-grade material.
Some Trump administration officials have gone even further, publicly arguing that Iran’s stockpile of 20% enriched uranium should also be removed or transferred under a final deal.
While those officials have characterized both stockpiles as significant proliferation risks, it remains unclear whether the inclusion of the 20% enriched material is a non-negotiable demand from the president himself or a broader objective being pursued by members of his national security team.
Trump said last week he believes the United States and Iran could reach an agreement within the next several days to extend the current ceasefire and reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking by telephone with ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl, Trump expressed confidence that negotiations remain on track despite a brief setback earlier in the day.
“Looking good, looking good,” Trump said.
The president acknowledged there had been a “glitch” in the talks but claimed he quickly helped resolve the issue.
“There was a little glitch today, but I turned that one around very quickly, as you probably noticed earlier,” Trump said.
According to Trump, the problem emerged after Iran became upset over Israeli military actions involving Lebanon.
“So, I spoke with Hezbollah, and I said no shooting, and I talked to Bibi [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu], and said, no shooting, and they both stopped shooting each other,” Trump said.
Trump suggested that a negotiated settlement with Iran could prove more significant than a battlefield victory.
“A peace agreement with Iran could be even better than a military victory,” he said.
The president cautioned that reaching a final deal remains difficult because of decades of hostility between Washington and Tehran.
“It’s not a simple thing,” Trump said. “You’re talking about a real large country — them — very large country making a deal. Tremendous hostility, really.”
He continued, “So it’s not an easy thing for them. It’s actually not easy from our standpoint either. But we’re getting what we need to get.”
Asked when a memorandum of understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be finalized, Trump pointed to a relatively short timeline.
“I think you’re talking about over the next week,” he said.
Trump added that negotiations are not yet complete because several issues still need to be resolved.
“I still have to get a few more points,” he said.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
