US shoot downs Iranian drones near Hormuz

STRAIT STANDOFF | Tehran demands asset release, accuses US of truce violations, says Washington must understand its rights

Agencies Washington/Tehran

The US military said it shot down two Iranian drones after they allegedly threatened traffic in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday.

“Earlier today, US forces in West Asia shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones that threatened international maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz,” US Central Command said on X.

The military said it remains ready to “continue defending against Iranian aggression”.

CONTRADICTORY US POSITIONS MAIN ISSUE IN TALKS, says TEHRAN

Iran’s main problem in negotiations with the US is Washing­ton’s changing and contradictory positions, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said, adding that messages continued to be exchanged through Pakistani mediators. “The main problem of negotiating with this administration is that you have to face so many changing positions, moving the goal posts, different statements, contradictory remarks by different officials, so it makes the whole process very cumbersome,” Baghaei said.

There were several sticking points, he said, “but the main issue is the Americans must understand they have to recognise Iran’s rights”, including its right to peaceful nuclear enrichment under the international non-proliferation treaty. “At the same time, when they are talking about our blocked assets they’re not going to give us any concession,” Baghaei said.

IRAN MAY ISSUE 30-DAY Hormuz DEADLINE

Iran could issue a 30-day deadline for reopening the strait under Iranian management in response to US actions, a member of Iran's negotiating team told the semi-official Fars news agency.

“Under this proposal, Tehran should announce that the reopening of the strait under Iranian administration will only be possible 30 days after all threats from the US and its allies have been removed,” Majid Shakeri, a member of Iran's negotiating team during recent Islamabad talks, said.

Naqvi meets Araghchi as ceasefire under strain

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (L) met Pakistan’s envoy for peace talks with the US in Tehran on Sunday, Iranian media reported. According to Tasnim, Araghchi met Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister. Naqvi met his Iranian counterpart, Eskandar Momeni, on Saturday night and said he had returned to Iran to deliver a message from Pakistani military chief Asim Munir to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei .

Iranian assets may fund Gulf rebuilding

Iran is demanding the US agree to unfreeze billions of dollars in assets held in foreign banks. 

The US plans to allow Iranian assets to be used for rebuilding in Gulf countries affected by future Iranian attacks, according to a source familiar with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s thinking.

The Treasury Department is also considering using Iranian assets to help repair damage caused by past attacks.

Bessent’s team will assess conditions in Gulf countries and seek estimates of the cost of repairing damage attributed to Iran since the start of the conflict.

The US must “simply stop their sanctions”, Baghaei said.

“As far as the sanctions and blocked assets are concerned, they simply need to let Iranian assets be released and be available for the Iranians.”

Baghaei accused the US of failing to respect the April ceasefire. 

“They have been attacking our commercial ships, both in the strait and on the high seas,” he asserted.