The crisis between the United States and Iran reached new heights Friday following President Donald Trump’s directive to American forces to fire upon Iranian small vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as Iranian officials rejected Trump’s assertions about internal political divisions within their country.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf responded with nearly matching posts on social media, stating: “In Iran there are no ‘hardliners’ or ‘moderates’. We are all Iranians and revolutionaries.”
Following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during the initial military action on February 28, questions remain about which Iranian officials now hold ultimate power among the nation’s civilian leadership and military commanders who currently appear to be running the country.
Trump announced Thursday night that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a three-week extension of the ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah following discussions at the White House.
The ongoing conflict has brought oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz to a virtual halt, blocking a waterway that typically handles one-fifth of global oil trade during normal conditions, with no resolution appearing imminent.
European Union foreign policy leader Kaja Kallas warned Friday that current peace talks between Washington and Tehran could result in a less effective deal than agreements reached ten years ago.
Speaking from Cyprus, Kallas said: “If the talks are only about the nuclear (issue) and there are no nuclear experts around the table, then we will end up with an agreement that is weaker than the JCPoA was,” referencing the 2015 nuclear accord from the Obama era that Trump withdrew from in 2018.
Kallas emphasized that without addressing Iran’s “missile programs, their support to proxies, and also hybrid and cyber activities in Europe,” negotiators risk creating “a more dangerous Iran.”
Meanwhile, Turkish officials reported that a humanitarian supply convoy departed for Iran on Friday, according to Turkey’s official Anadolu news service.
Van Health Director Muhammed Tosun confirmed that six trucks left the eastern Turkish city of Van to cross at the Gurbulak border checkpoint.
“The materials include medicines and medical supplies,” Tosun explained.
“We previously sent three trucks. With today’s trucks, a total of nine trucks of aid materials will have been delivered to our Iranian colleagues to serve their citizens,” he added.
