President Donald Trump avoided giving a direct response Tuesday when questioned about whether Iran had breached a ceasefire agreement following consecutive attacks on the United Arab Emirates using missiles and unmanned aircraft.
Officials with the UAE’s Defense Ministry confirmed their air defense systems confronted incoming ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drone aircraft. While many of the weapons were successfully intercepted, military leaders characterized the consecutive assaults as a direct threat to the nation’s security.
When reporters in the Oval Office pressed Trump on whether these actions violated the ceasefire terms, he remained evasive. “You’ll find out because I’ll let you know when they do,” Trump told a reporter in the Oval Office. “They know what not to do.” He continued, “They should do the smart thing because we don’t want to go in and kill people.”
N12 news reported that Trump nearly authorized additional military strikes on Friday but changed his decision after Iran presented a revised proposal to end hostilities. The same report indicated he subsequently rejected Iran’s proposal.
American government sources indicate Trump faces mounting pressure from external advisers to restart military operations, while emphasizing his current preference for diplomatic solutions. However, these same officials cautioned that if negotiations continue to stall in the near future, Trump stands ready to greenlight a brief but intensive military campaign to break the current deadlock.
In a separate development, PressTV announced Iran has established what it calls “a new mechanism to assert sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.” Under this system, ships intending to pass through the waterway must receive regulatory notifications via email and secure permits before proceeding.
“We warn all vessels planning to transit the Strait of Hormuz that the only safe passage is the corridor previously announced by Iran. Any diversion of ships to other routes is dangerous and will result in a firm response from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards navy,” according to a statement broadcast on state television.
During a military ceremony for air force leadership changes, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir stated Tuesday: “We are closely monitoring the events in the Persian Gulf; we are prepared to respond with force against any attempt to harm Israel.”
CNN reported, citing an Israeli official, that Israel is coordinating with the United States to prepare for potential new strikes against Iran. The official explained that most plans were developed prior to the early April ceasefire and would target energy facilities and high-ranking Iranian officials through targeted killings. The official added: “The intention will be to carry out a short campaign aimed at pressuring Iran into further concessions in negotiations.”
