Iran fires drones at commercial ships in Strait of Hormuz: Israeli Media
Tehran, June 17
Iran has reportedly fired multiple drones aimed at commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a source told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.
The firing took place after the signing of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Sunday, and the drones were intercepted by the US military ere they posed a threat to commercial or US military ships and personnel.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had launched the drones, a US official told NBC, adding that the US military is coordinating with shipping companies to support ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, as per Jerusalem Post.
Meanwhile, US intelligence agencies' assessment revealed on Wednesday that Iran has acquired the ability after the war to shut the Strait of Hormuz at will, sources told CNN.
Iran's ability to hurt the economy using the critical waterway can crop up again regardless of the framework agreement to be signed on Friday, the assessment revealed.
Iran has now become the US' Achilles heel as it has learnt to leverage the strikes on Gulf countries' energy infrastructure, the sources familiar with the assessment told CNN. Iran had struck US bases in the neighbouring countries- the bases which were meant to be the safety guarantors by the US.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump vowed to publicly release the text of the agreement with Iran "in a couple of days" and even floated reciting the entire document in front of cameras.
The US President indicated that he is waiting for a "formal setting" before revealing it publicly.
"I'd like to get a formal setting first before we do that, but I have no problem with that. It's a great document," he said during a meeting with the leader of the United Arab Emirates, President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France.
Detailing the core substance of the accord, the US President added, "Here's what it says: Iran will never have a nuclear weapon," Trump went on.
The US President signed the agreement electronically on Sunday, but the full text hasn't been publicly disclosed.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Trump talking about transparency but still hiding the full deal details? Classic! 😂 And Iran playing games in Hormuz while signing MoUs? Both sides are unreliable. India should keep a safe distance and protect our own shipping lanes.
Interesting how the US intercepts the drones but can't stop Iran from acquiring the ability to shut the strait. Seems like another Middle Eastern quagmire. I hope India isn't dragged into this conflict.
The US-Iran dynamic is like a bad marriage - they keep promising peace but continue fighting. Meanwhile, global trade suffers. India needs to work with both sides diplomatically, but this is not our fight. Let them sort it out among themselves. 🚢
The trust level here is zero. Iran fires drones while signing deals, US claims transparency but hides details. And ordinary people like us bear the cost of higher oil prices. India should invest more in renewable energy and strategic oil reserves.
Respectful criticism: India relies too heavily on this region. We should learn from this episode and reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz by expanding Chabahar Port operations and boosting domestic oil production. Mahanagar Gas and other PSUs need to step up exploration.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.