US Strikes Iran Despite Ceasefire As Trump Pushes Abraham Accords
by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM/TEHRAN (Worthy News) – The U.S. military confirmed late Monday it carried out “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran, including against missile launch sites and boats placing naval mines, despite an ongoing ceasefire and President Donald Trump saying negotiations with Tehran were “proceeding nicely.”
There was no immediate response from Iran.
“The strikes were conducted ‘to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,’ the U.S. military said, adding that it was ‘using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,’ according to Captain Tim Hawkins, spokesman for U.S. Central Command.”
The developments came as the emerging Iran agreement faced criticism from some Republicans favoring a tougher stance against Tehran.
TRUMP PUSHES ABRAHAM ACCORDS
The strikes came while Trump urged several Muslim-majority nations to join the Abraham Accords, the U.S.-brokered agreements aimed at normalizing relations with Israel.
The American president said he asked Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan to “immediately” sign onto the accords.
In a social media post, Trump said that if Iran reached an agreement with the United States, joining the accords would become part of “an unparalleled world coalition.”
However, Pakistan rejected the proposal, while the other nations had not publicly responded by late Monday.
GAZA WAR COMPLICATES TALKS
Analysts said mistrust toward Israel remains high in many Muslim-majority countries because of the ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza.
Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam and custodian of what Muslims regard as the “holy cities” of Mecca and Medina, has repeatedly said normalization with Israel would require progress toward Palestinian statehood.
Trump nevertheless said talks with Iran were advancing, though he did not indicate that a final deal was imminent.
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime Trump ally, welcomed efforts to connect an Iran deal with broader regional normalization involving Israel.
REGIONAL REALIGNMENT EFFORTS
Others were more skeptical. Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group warned that Trump was attempting to portray an Iran agreement as “an Abraham Accords sequel” that could reshape the Middle East.
Yet Trump has repeatedly sought to expand the Abraham Accords, first signed during his earlier term in office.
The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain became the first Arab states in a quarter century to normalize relations with Israel under the 2020 agreements, followed later by Morocco and Sudan.
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