US, Iran exchange fire as negotiations stall

The United States and Iran traded military strikes over the weekend, further straining a fragile ceasefire amid stalled negotiations. The US military conducted self-defense strikes on Iranian radar and drone control sites in southern Iran after an MQ-1 drone was downed, marking the third such US operation in over a week. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reportedly retaliated by targeting a US air base used for the strikes, though the location was not specified. The Kuwaiti military also intercepted hostile missile and drone attacks, though the origin was not confirmed. Negotiations between Washington and Tehran have failed to resolve critical issues, including Iran’s nuclear program and the conflict in Lebanon, which Iran demands must end as part of any broader agreement. The latest escalation coincides with Israel expanding its offensive in Lebanon, with Prime Minister Netanyahu vowing deeper military action. Tensions were heightened earlier this year when US and Israeli strikes killed senior Iranian leadership, disrupting talks on Iran’s nuclear program. While Iran insists its nuclear efforts are civilian, the US and its allies suspect weaponization intentions. Reports suggest US President Trump has proposed a revised framework requiring Iran to abandon nuclear ambitions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane currently blockaded by Iran. Trump claimed Iran had agreed to no nuclear weapons, but Tehran dismissed his assertions, demanding the release of $12 billion in frozen assets before substantive talks begin. Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, have rejected US claims, emphasizing that no agreement will be approved without guarantees for Iranian rights. Exchanges on the deal’s text continue, with both sides proposing amendments. Meanwhile, Iran has denied Trump’s claim that it would waive "tolls" on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, with lawmakers asserting plans for "management and sovereignty," including potential administrative fees. The stalemate threatens global oil supplies, as competing US and Iranian blockades have disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media has disputed Trump’s earlier remarks about destroying enriched uranium stockpiles, calling them baseless. With negotiations deadlocked and military tensions rising, both sides remain far apart on key demands.