Kathmandu – On Monday night, three powerful explosions were heard in the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas. Similar large blasts were also reported in the nearby regions of Sirik and Jask, close to the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Initially, the exact cause of the explosions was unclear. However, within hours, a brief statement released by US Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesperson Tim Hawkins revealed that the blasts were the result of a US military “defensive strike.” The attacks targeted missile launch sites and Iranian vessels attempting to deploy sea mines. CENTCOM explained that the strike was carried out to protect their forces and exercising restraint during an ongoing ceasefire.
The strikes occurred the same day a senior Iranian delegation arrived in Doha, Qatar, for high-level talks aimed at ending hostilities among the US, Israel, and Iran. This assault took place amid the ceasefire brokered by Pakistan that began on April 8 and which Iran declared had resolved 95 percent of its issues with the US. Yet, despite that declaration, US military forces launched an attack that same night.
What happened in Bandar Abbas? According to Iranian news agencies, at least three significant explosions took place in Bandar Abbas, located approximately 70 kilometers from the Strait of Hormuz. Residents reported clearly hearing the blast sounds. Reports also confirmed similar explosions in Sirik and Jask areas. Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported that the situation in Bandar Abbas stabilized quickly and local authorities were conducting necessary investigations. CENTCOM did not disclose detailed information about the strike or casualty figures. According to the Times of India, the US military destroyed several IRGC ships and targeted surface-to-air missile systems (SAM sites).
Trump’s mixed signals: negotiations alongside threats. US Secretary of State Mark Rubio, visiting Jaipur, India officially confirmed the military operation. He accused Iran of blockading the Strait of Hormuz and stressed that the route must remain open. Rubio highlighted ongoing significant talks in Qatar with hopes for progress, noting that the preliminary draft of the agreement involved extensive discussions and expected to conclude in several days. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump posted a lengthy message on the social media platform Truth Social, stating negotiations with Iran were advancing well but warned that if talks failed, the US would launch even larger military strikes. Thus, Trump conveyed both engagement and coercion simultaneously, advocating either a deal beneficial for all or no agreement at all. He warned that without an accord, the US might return to conflict with greater force but emphasized nobody desires war.
The Abraham Accords and regional normalization: In conversations with Al Jazeera, certain Iranian sources expressed that President Trump aims to broaden the peace accord beyond bilateral issues. He intended to link it with the earlier Abraham Accords, which condition normalization of relations between Israel and countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Bahrain, and Jordan. Trump noted on social media that while some countries might refuse to accept Israel, most should be willing to make the agreement historic. The Abraham Accords, initially signed in 2020 during Trump’s first term, paved the way for the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan to establish diplomatic ties with Israel. However, most Arab states in the Middle East condition normalization on the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state, complicating the current negotiations.
There has been no official Iranian government response to the recent US strike, though local agencies reported the downing of a stealth drone by a new Iranian air defense system. Regarding the Doha talks, Iranian sources revealed that prior to the US airstrike, the IRGC targeted ships at sea resulting in casualties. This is seen as part of a series of retaliatory attacks. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated in a Tehran press conference that significant progress had been made on many issues but the deal had not yet reached the signing phase. His emphasis was on ending the war rather than discussing nuclear issues. He warned the US airstrike on Monday could seriously jeopardize the peace process. Baghaei criticized the Trump administration’s demands to destroy uranium and said the US had failed to demonstrate commitment to a possible deal, asserting Tehran would disregard threats. The Iranian delegation in Doha is led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati—the latter indicates talks on unfreezing US-blocked funds are underway. The talks mainly focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and managing highly enriched uranium stocks. However, the US strike raises serious concerns about the talks’ success. Limited information has come from the US side, making it difficult to assess the strike’s nature, according to journalist Fisher.
Understanding the conflict’s root cause requires examining recent developments. Increased military conflict among the US, Israel, and Iran has turned the Strait of Hormuz into a battlefield, threatening global energy supplies. The Strait is a sensitive and crucial oil transit route, through which about a quarter of the world’s oil and gas exports pass. US Secretary of State Rubio stated that 40 percent of global oil trade depends on this route and that disruptions affect energy security in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. On April 8, under Pakistani mediation, the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, which has since extended. Still, Iran maintains military control over the Strait, while the US enforces a harsh naval blockade on Iranian ports. According to China’s Xinhua agency, although the ceasefire has somewhat eased tensions, decades of mistrust remain, and minimal confidence-building has been achieved. Regional atmosphere indicates some rapprochement, with Iran agreeing to reduce enriched uranium and open the Strait, and the US pledging to lift naval blockades, but Monday’s military action casts doubt on these positive signals.
Pakistan and China are playing active diplomatic roles in this complex situation. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir visited China for four days, holding significant talks with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. Pakistani officials’ visit signals not only bilateral cooperation but China’s commitment to fostering peace and stability in the Middle East, underscoring Beijing’s direct interest and involvement in regional conflict resolution. The US has been pressuring China for weeks to encourage reopening the Strait but created uncertainty by stating before a summit that Beijing’s help was unnecessary. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Army Chief Munir recently visited Tehran for mediation efforts, enhancing Pakistan’s role as a key diplomatic actor in resolving regional conflicts. (With agency contributions)
