Images of chaos and a military explosion unfolded on the evening of June 3 in the Gulf of Oman with Iranian forces fiercely attacking a US Navy destroyer, as retaliation for prior US strikes on the islands of Kharg and Qeshm, as reported by the Tass agency. Specifically, the Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy stated that it attacked an American cruiser ship attempting to approach the territorial waters of Iran in the Gulf of Oman. In fact, Tehran stated the Iranian Navy will continue to closely monitor the "American-Zionist enemy" and that it will avenge "in the harshest way" the blood of the fallen of the destroyer Dena, while pledging to respond to any hostile action "in the shortest possible time" At the same time, the Iranian MFA issued a shocking warning to Israel, declaring that, "the armed forces of the country are ready to strike the Zionist state if its army launches an attack on Beirut". Despite diplomatic assurances regarding advanced negotiations between Iran and the US, the region of the Middle East seems to be entering for good a trajectory of a new, uncontrollable and asymmetric escalation...
Iran: We targeted a command center on a US cruiser ship - We will respond to every threat
Specifically on the evening of June 3, Tehran announced that the Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran targeted the command and control center of an American destroyer, in response to what it characterizes as "hostile actions" against Iranian commercial ships. According to the semi-official news agency Tasnim, the incident occurred a few hours before the announcement, following what Tehran describes as "aggressive actions", "violation of the regulations of the Straits of Hormuz" and actions against Iranian commercial vessels in the Sea of Oman by the American military.
According to the announcement, the naval forces of Iran, after locating and identifying the target, struck the "command and control center" located on an American destroyer which, according to the same claims, was attempting to approach the waters of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Sea of Oman. The announcement concludes with a strict warning, stating that the Iranian Navy will continue to closely monitor the "American-Zionist enemy" and that it will avenge "in the harshest way" the blood of the fallen of the destroyer Dena, while pledging to respond to any hostile action "in the shortest possible time".
Shocking warning to Israel as well: "If you attack Beirut you will be wiped off the face of the earth"
The armed forces of Iran are ready to strike Israel if its army launches an attack on Beirut, stated for his part, the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi in an exceptionally harsh warning. "The military capabilities of Iran in this war have become clear and made it clear that if they attack Beirut, Iran will respond decisively", he stated in an interview on Al Mayadeen television.
On June 1, the Tasnim news agency reported that Tehran suspended communications with Washington as a protest against the escalation of Israel in Lebanon. The US and Iran were exchanging messages regarding a draft agreement that would extend the ceasefire and restore navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. However, Abbas Araghchi stated today that Iran and the US have not broken off their contacts and that both sides are reviewing the texts they had previously exchanged.
Abbas Araghchi: We are working with the US on the final wordings of the agreement texts
Tehran and Washington are reviewing the texts of the agreement they exchanged and are working on the final wording, added the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi, according to the Lebanese network Al Mayadeen. "We and the Americans are studying the texts we exchanged and are working on the final wordings", he stated. The contacts between Iran and the United States have not been interrupted, but for the time being "no progress has been made in the negotiations".
Prior to this, the President of the White House Donald Trump stated that there is no need for a US ground operation against Iran. It is noted, that Iran demands from Israel to completely stop hostilities in the Gaza Strip and in Lebanon and to immediately withdraw its troops from Lebanese territory.
Intervention by Ghalibaf: Iran will never become an easy target - We stand unyielding against bullying and oppression
In his turn, the Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf stressed that Iran is no longer a target of easy threats for enemies, adding that the experience of confrontation with two wars of the US and Israel showed that Iran is fully capable of delivering harsh responses to any aggression. In a message on the occasion of the anniversary of the death of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, on Wednesday 3/6, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated that the era when Iran was threatened without there being consequences has passed irretrievably. The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament mentioned in his message that, inspired by the teachings of Imam Khomeini, the Iranian nation showed in its recent clashes with the United States and the Israeli regime that it will never succumb to pressure. "Imam Khomeini taught the Iranian nation not to retreat before bullying and domination… every aggression will be met with a decisive, proportional response that will cause repentance", the speaker stressed in his message.
Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf also recalled the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who used to deliver a keynote speech at the shrine of Imam Khomeini every year on the eve of the anniversary of his death. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was eliminated after an airstrike on his office in Tehran on the first day of the recent aggression of the US and Israel on February 28. "With his pure blood, the Martyr Seyyed Ali Khamenei ensured the continuity and guarantee of the movement of the great Khomeini, raised the banner of dignity, independence and resistance higher than ever and entrusted it to future generations", stated Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf. He added that millions of people in Iran, inspired by the teachings and legacies of Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, will continue to resist foreign interventions aimed at undermining the independence of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Barrage of drones swept the IDF in Lebanon - 2 Israelis dead and 10 wounded by Hezbollah strikes
A flare-up was also recorded on the Lebanon front, since two Israeli soldiers were killed and another 10 were wounded in nighttime attacks with unmanned aerial vehicles of Hezbollah on the border, according to Hebrew media reports cited by the Iranian agency Tasnim. As the Israeli television network Kan broadcasted, the casualties occurred during recent clashes, with Hezbollah reportedly using offensive suicide drones against Israeli forces. The same sources speak of two dead soldiers and ten wounded, underlining the severity of the attacks carried out under the cover of night. So far there is no official confirmation from the Israel Defense Forces regarding the exact number of victims.
Two Merkava to ashes
It is noted that Hezbollah carried out coordinated operations against Israeli units in the area of Qala-e-Qaleh-e-Khaf, causing significant losses in military equipment and forces of the Israeli army. The organization announced that during the operations, offensive unmanned aerial vehicles of the Ababil type were used, which reportedly struck two Merkava battle tanks. According to the announcements of Hezbollah, the two tanks were completely destroyed. At the same time, the organization reported that it carried out artillery bombardment against concentrated Israeli troops in the same area, resulting in a military vehicle also being hit. Hezbollah also claimed that it launched a massive missile attack against positions and concentrations of Israeli forces around the historic fortress of Shafif, as part of the continuation of its operations on the northern front.
At the same time, sources from the area report that the air defense systems of the Israeli army were activated around the settlement of Kiryat Shmona, following attacks that manifested from the southern part of Lebanon. These developments confirm that the tension on the border remains high, despite international calls for deflation. The exchange of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli army continues to fuel concerns over the possibility of a wider regional conflict in the Middle East. So far there has been no official confirmation from the Israeli army regarding the claims of Hezbollah about the destruction of battle tanks and military vehicles.
Fars: Iran imposes a 4-stage agreement - Ceasefire on all fronts a prerequisite
Meanwhile, the key parameters of a potential agreement between Iran and the US were revealed by the Iranian agency Fars, citing a member of the communication team of the negotiating group, presenting a four-phase plan for the deflation of the crisis and the restoration of relations between the two sides. The first phase provides for the complete termination of hostilities and every military operation. As stressed, the cessation of conflicts should concern all involved sides, including Iran, the US and also the organizations belonging to the so-called Axis of Resistance. After the ceasefire stabilizes, the second phase will follow, which includes specific and immediate measures.
Among these is the settlement of issues concerning the Straits of Hormuz and navigation in the area, the lifting of the economic blockade, the relaxation or abolition of restrictions on oil exports and the release of part of the Iranian funds that remain frozen abroad. The third phase focuses on negotiations over the broader sanctions regime and the nuclear program of Iran. According to the Iranian side, these talks will begin only after tangible and verifiable steps of implementation of the initial commitments precede. The final stage provides for the creation of a joint oversight committee, which will monitor the implementation of the agreement and the adherence to commitments by all sides. Although the composition of the body has not yet been finalized, Tehran seeks the participation of friendly and ally countries, so as to ensure the credibility and effectiveness of the mechanism. The Fars agency adds that negotiations continue and that Tehran is not going to accept an agreement which will not include the interruption of Israeli attacks in Lebanon.
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