United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed hope that Iran will present a “serious offer” today in response to a diplomatic proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.
Speaking in Rome on Friday, the top diplomat noted that while Washington expects a response soon, the “fractured” and “dysfunctional” nature of the Iranian leadership may be hindering the process.
“We should know something soon,” Rubio said, emphasising that the US goal is to enter a substantive process of negotiation, reports CNN.
The diplomatic anticipation comes despite a significant escalation in the Strait of Hormuz, where the US has intensified its naval blockade.
On Friday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that American F/A-18 Super Hornets from the USS George HW Bush disabled two Iranian-flagged oil tankers, the M/T Sea Star III and the M/T Sevda.
The vessels were reportedly attempting to bypass the blockade to reach an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman when precision munitions were fired into their smokestacks, effectively preventing their entry.
This action followed a similar incident on Wednesday, where a fighter jet disabled the rudder of the oil tanker M/T Hasna.
Retaliatory strikes and ‘love taps’
The current friction follows a major military exchange on Thursday.
According to CENTCOM, Iranian forces launched a series of “unprovoked” attacks involving missiles, drones, and small boats against three US destroyers – the USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason – as they transited international waters.
US forces successfully intercepted the assault without sustaining damage to their assets and responded with strikes against Iranian military facilities, including command centres and launch sites in Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island.
Despite the exchange of fire, President Donald Trump has insisted that the month-old ceasefire remains “in effect,” dismissing the American retaliatory strikes as a “love tap.”
In a post on social media, Trump touted the interception of Iranian drones, comparing them to butterflies “dropping to [their] grave,” while warning Tehran to sign a deal “FAST” to avoid more violent consequences in the future.
Tehran, however, has offered a sharply different interpretation of the crisis.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the American strikes as a “reckless military adventure” that undermines diplomatic solutions. He asserted that Iran would “never bow to pressure.”
A spokesperson for the Iranian armed forces alleged that US strikes hit civilian areas, including the Bahman Pier on Qeshm Island, and claimed that Tehran had taken “reciprocal action” against US vessels south of the port of Chabahar.
Maritime blockade and regional risk
The naval blockade continues to severely impact regional commerce. CENTCOM reports that over 70 tankers, carrying an estimated 166 million barrels of oil worth more than $13 billion, are currently being prevented from entering or leaving Iranian ports.
Tensions remain high as CNN obtained audio from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy warning international ships to keep a 10-mile distance from American warships. A voice in the recording cautioned that Iran might need to “teach Yankees a lesson” using missiles and drones.
The instability has also spread to neighbouring states, with the United Arab Emirates’ Defence Ministry reporting three injuries following fresh Iranian attacks.
While US General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted that Iran has targeted US forces more than ten times since the ceasefire began, the Pentagon maintains that its forces are operating in a defensive posture.
However, maritime industry sources expressed concern that the possibility of an amicable resolution is fading, as commercial traffic in the Strait remains significantly reduced. All eyes now remain on Tehran’s expected response to the American proposal.
