U.S. Strikes Resume as Iran Denies Finalizing Peace Memorandum

Overview

• U.S. forces carried out a new round of strikes on Iran this week in what Centcom described as self‑defense after an American Apache was downed and subsequent Iranian missile and drone attacks hit bases in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait.
• Iran’s military announced it had closed the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic but Centcom says the waterway remains open and U.S. forces have intercepted Iranian drones that targeted shipping.
• President Trump said he called off planned night strikes after negotiators reached agreement on final points, but Tehran publicly denied approving any finished text and urged restraint in media reporting.
• Leaks and state media reports describe a draft memorandum that would reopen Hormuz, impose a 60‑day truce and free about US$24 billion in Iranian frozen assets, yet U.S. and Iranian officials dispute key terms and conditions for any releases.
• The resumed exchanges raise near‑term risks to Gulf shipping and global energy prices with negotiators, regional mediators and the proposed signing location and timing now the key indicators to watch next.