Diplomatic efforts to revive the 'Memorandum of Understanding'... and 'Centcom': We will remain on maximum alert to carry out our missions

Iran renewed its attacks on Kuwait and the Kingdom of Bahrain yesterday, amid reports that mediators have resumed efforts to de-escalate tensions and prevent further deterioration of confrontations, while Washington announced it remains open to a diplomatic solution.

US President Donald Trump said the latest US military strikes against Iran early yesterday were carried out “in honor of the American soldiers who were killed” in Jordan. Speaking to reporters upon his return to Washington after attending the final match of the FIFA World Cup, Trump said: “We hit them very hard again. We did this in honor of our great patriotic soldiers who were killed” in Washington’s efforts “to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.”

Later, Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social: “Every time Iran kills an American soldier, they will pay a multiple-fold price for that killing! I have given these orders to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Daniel Cain, and all military commanders.”

For his part, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed that his country would continue doing what is necessary to protect global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to reporters before departing for the Philippines to attend the meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Rubio said: “The United States always remains open to a diplomatic solution. We have tried several times with Iran, and we will continue to try, but it must be genuine. It must be an agreement they are willing to abide by.”

He warned that “the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran cannot remain in effect if the Iranians are violating its provisions,” referring to the document signed by both sides last June. He accused Iran of using the Strait of Hormuz as a bargaining chip.

Rubio added: “The United States will continue doing what is necessary to protect global shipping flows, but other countries must begin intensifying their efforts and securing either equipment or financial support to help share this burden.”

Meanwhile, Al Arabiya and Al Hadath TV channels quoted a high-ranking source as saying discussions were underway regarding a proposal for a ceasefire between the US and Iran, and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz for 10 days to two weeks. Reuters also quoted an Iranian official as saying that “mediators have proposed a 10-day ceasefire to explore ways to revive the memorandum of understanding.”

A source in Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior spoke of Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni’s visit to Islamabad, which is playing a mediating role between the two sides. The source told Agence France-Presse that Momeni would hold talks with Pakistani officials. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei confirmed that diplomatic communications with Washington are ongoing.

On the ground, the General Command of the Bahrain Defense Force stated that Iran is continuing its systematic hostile approach through its despicable attacks targeting civilians in the Kingdom of Bahrain. In a statement, it clarified that air defense systems intercepted, repelled, and destroyed several of Iran’s treacherous aerial attacks yesterday, emphasizing that all its weapons and units are at the highest levels of readiness and preparedness to defend the kingdom.

In a related development, Bahrain’s General Authority of Civil Aviation announced that, as a result of Iran’s despicable aggression against the Kingdom of Bahrain, civil navigation devices of the Bahrain Flight Information Region were targeted by hostile drones. However, this did not affect the flow of air navigation operations. It noted that air flights and air navigation traffic passing through the Bahrain Flight Information Region are proceeding normally, with continued monitoring and coordination with international organizations and relevant authorities.

The Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Expressions strongly condemned and denounced Iran’s despicable and repeated attacks targeting civilian and vital facilities in the Kingdom using missiles and drones, calling them a blatant violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty, security, and stability, a direct threat to the lives of innocent civilians, and a serious breach of international law, international humanitarian law, the UN Charter, principles of good neighborliness, and resolutions of international legitimacy.

The ministry strongly condemned Iran’s targeting of civil aviation navigation devices and air traffic, describing it as a serious threat to the safety of international civil aviation and the lives of passengers and crews, and a clear violation of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) resolutions. It affirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s inherent right to take all lawful measures to protect its sovereignty, security, and stability, and to defend its territory and vital facilities. The ministry stressed Bahrain’s call on the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to fully assume its responsibilities and take firm, deterrent measures to compel Iran to immediately and completely cease its despicable, unjustified, and hostile conduct.

For its part, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that US military logistics and support experts continue to perform their duties at the highest levels of efficiency and excellence, ensuring that the world’s most professional and lethal combat force remains on high alert.

Earlier, CENTCOM announced the completion of a new ninth wave of military strikes against Iran, aimed at further undermining its ability to attack commercial shipping, civilian vessels, and sailors in the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account yesterday morning, CENTCOM said: “US forces successfully completed the ninth consecutive night of strikes against Iran,” targeting Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, naval capabilities, missile and drone launch platforms, and communication networks. It emphasized that its forces “remain on maximum alert, highly focused, and fully combat-ready.”

Separately, CENTCOM announced that it had rerouted seven commercial vessels since the resumption of the naval blockade on Iranian ports, confirming that it continues to enforce the blockade.