The United States and Iran engaged in a tit-for-tat exchange of strikes following the crash of a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. As both sides conducted airstrikes and missile attacks, military tensions escalated, casting doubt on the prospects for a swift resolution to ongoing peace negotiations.
The US Central Command announced on June 9 via X (formerly Twitter) that it had initiated a "self-defense" attack against Iran at 5 p.m. local time (6 a.m. June 10 in South Korea), stating that the operation was a response to the helicopter's downing the previous day and emphasized it was a proportional measure against Iran's unjustifiable aggression.
President Donald Trump claimed the helicopter crash was a result of an Iranian attack and warned that the US would inevitably respond to this aggression.
Shortly after the Central Command's announcement, explosions were reported in the southern Iranian coastal city of Sirik and near Bandar Abbas and Qeshm in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran's Mehr News Agency. Local authorities in Minab confirmed that no attacks were detected inland, but explosions were heard in coastal areas adjacent to the Strait.
Iran's Retaliatory Strikes and US Counterattacks
In response, Iran quickly retaliated with its own airstrikes. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on X, "Any attack will be met with retaliation," adding, "If you want safety, leave our region. The history of the Persian Gulf is filled with records of the miserable fates of invading foreign powers."
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) later announced via its Telegram channel that it had launched missiles and drones at US targets in the region. Iran claimed to have targeted the US Navy's Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain and the Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan, stating that the targets included an F-35 hangar and a command center.
Iran also issued warnings to neighboring countries hosting US military bases. The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that all countries in the region, particularly those along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf, have a legal and moral responsibility to prevent the use of their territory or facilities for hostile actions against Iran by the US and Israel.
As a result, countries such as Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain issued alerts. According to the Associated Press, Kuwait activated its air defense systems in response to Iran's retaliatory strikes, while Bahrain also activated its defenses and issued evacuation orders for residents.
Following Iran's retaliatory strikes, the US launched additional counterattacks after the initial strike. Axios reported, citing a senior US official, that the US military conducted a second airstrike targeting Iran's air defense systems and radar, followed by a third strike. According to Reuters, the IRGC reported that US airstrikes damaged communication towers and two water tanks in the Sirik area.
After several hours of conflict, the US Central Command announced that the airstrikes had concluded. It stated that US Air Force and Navy fighter jets used precision-guided munitions to strike Iranian air defense facilities, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz. This operation was described as a response to recent Iranian attacks on US forces and international shipping in the area.
Possibility of Prolonged Negotiations
The resumption of military conflict has cast uncertainty over the prospects for peace negotiations. In a June 8 interview with BBC, President Trump stated, "We are very close to a very strong agreement. It will be a very good agreement," asserting that there would be no nuclear weapons or anything else involved.
While the US has conveyed that an agreement is near, Iran has maintained that there have been no new proposals or concessions that could be interpreted as progress in negotiations. According to Fars News Agency, sources close to the Iranian negotiating team indicated that Iran has not submitted any new proposals. Iran also denied reports from Al-Arabiya suggesting that it agreed to transfer enriched uranium to a third country.
However, some analysts argue that the renewed conflict does not necessarily mean negotiations have collapsed. Mark Kimmitt, a former US general, stated in an interview with Al Jazeera that while both sides are exchanging retaliatory attacks and strong rhetoric, it is unlikely that negotiations between the US and Iran have completely derailed. Following news of the conflict, international oil prices, which had risen by about 1%, moderated to a 0.3% increase as of 4:48 p.m. Korean time, reflecting limited expectations for escalation.
Despite President Trump's indications of a swift resolution, the likelihood of prolonged negotiations appears to be increasing. Kimmitt predicted, "Iran will seek to prolong negotiations for as long as possible," suggesting that an agreement is not expected to emerge in just a few days.
US Vice President JD Vance also left open the possibility of extended negotiations. In an interview with CBS News, he stated that an agreement with Iran is "clearly" possible before the November midterm elections, but added that it could also be reached next week or take several months to finalize.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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