US-Iran Confrontation Escalates as Trump Pushes Ultimatum
U.S. forces strike Iranian radar sites and intercept drones; Trump warns of either a deal or military action.
US-Iran Confrontation Escalates as Trump Pushes Ultimatum — Friday night brought a significant escalation between the United States and Iran. U.S. forces intercepted four Iranian drones in the Strait of Hormuz and struck coastal surveillance radar sites in Goruk and on Qeshm Island in southern Iran.[^1] CENTCOM emphasized that the forces acted in self-defense.[^1] The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it attacked US military bases in the region, claiming the IRGC Aerospace Force launched ballistic missiles at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and facilities associated with the US Navy's 5th Fleet in Bahrain.[^2] According to CENTCOM, Iran launched seven ballistic missiles toward Kuwait and Bahrain, six of which were intercepted.[^3] President Donald Trump, speaking at a roundtable on agriculture in Wisconsin, stated that the confrontation with Iran will end either with a diplomatic agreement or through military means. "One way or another it will end—either with a piece of paper, or in a more difficult way," he said.[^4] He also claimed that Iran lost 159 ships in four days and that "Iran no longer has a navy," and that the country has 21-22% of its missiles left.[^4] Trump linked the military actions to thwarting Iran's nuclear program, saying "We had to shut down their nuclear capability."[^4] US Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated on Friday that lowering gasoline prices for Americans ultimately requires a resolution with Iran.[^5] Meanwhile, reports emerged that Trump envoys held a secret meeting advancing a nuclear deal with Iran, but Iran accused Trump of derailing the talks.[^6] The dispute also involves frozen Iranian assets worth $24 billion.[^7] As the military and diplomatic tracks diverge, the immediate question is whether Trump's ultimatum will push Iran toward negotiations or further retaliation. E-1 settlement project draws bipartisan US House opposition — Eighty-five members of the US House of Representatives have called on the Trump administration to use all available diplomatic tools to halt the Israeli E-1 settlement project in occupied East Jerusalem, warning it would undermine the two-state solution.[^1] The letter, add