U.S.-Iran tensions have entered a high-risk phase of 'fighting while negotiating': the U.S. military has launched two 'self-defense strikes' against Iran within a week, destroying radar installations, drone facilities, and missile sites, while Iran retaliated by shooting down a U.S. drone. However, President Trump simultaneously sent diplomatic signals, stating that Iran 'truly wants' to reach an agreement and that 'everything will ultimately work out.' Although talks are said to be in their final stage, key disagreements over Iran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz remain unresolved.
Military tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue to escalate, yet negotiations between the two sides have not been suspended. Against a backdrop of sporadic exchanges of fire, Trump has nonetheless signaled diplomatically that Iran is willing to reach an agreement, keeping markets highly attentive to the evolving situation.
According to Xinhua News Agency, on May 31, U.S. Central Command announced it had conducted 'defensive strikes' against radar and drone command-and-control facilities in Iran’s Goruk region and Qeshm Island, citing retaliation for Iran’s downing of a U.S. MQ-1 drone operating over international waters. Earlier, on May 25, U.S. forces struck Iranian missile launch sites in southern Iran and vessels attempting to lay naval mines. Over recent days, sporadic clashes have occurred repeatedly, sustaining heightened tensions.
Nevertheless, on June 1, U.S. President Trump posted on social media that Iran 'truly wants' to reach an agreement, which would be 'one favorable to the United States and our allies.' According to Xinhua News Agency, both sides indicated that negotiations are currently in their final stage, yet significant differences persist regarding Iran’s nuclear program and the status of the Strait of Hormuz.
Military Frictions Escalate Further
According to CCTV International News, on June 1, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed that U.S. forces recently attacked a communications tower on Sirik Island in Hormozgan Province. In response, the IRGC Aerospace Force immediately struck a U.S. Air Force base responsible for the attack and destroyed its intended target. The IRGC warned that if such acts of aggression recur, Iran’s response will be 'fundamentally different.'
According to Xinhua News Agency, U.S. Central Command’s strikes against Iran on May 30–31 destroyed elements of Iran’s air defense system, a ground control station, and two one-way attack drones posing a 'clear threat' to vessels navigating regional waters. The U.S. side reported no casualties. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that an American MQ-1 drone had entered Iranian airspace over its territorial waters in the early hours of the same day, prompting Iran to shoot it down with a missile.
Prior to this, as reported by CCTV International News, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command announced on the evening of May 25 (Eastern Time) that U.S. forces had carried out 'self-defense strikes' in southern Iran, targeting missile launch sites and Iranian vessels attempting to deploy naval mines. The spokesperson added that U.S. forces 'will continue to exercise restraint during the current ceasefire period.' Statements from both sides indicate that military operations are proceeding alongside a fragile ceasefire framework, leaving the situation highly volatile.
Negotiations Continue Despite Unresolved Differences
Despite frequent military clashes, diplomatic efforts have not come to a complete halt. According to Xinhua News Agency, on June 1, Trump explicitly stated in a social media post that Iran was willing to reach an agreement and pushed back against domestic critics, accusing Democrats and some Republicans of 'incessantly complaining negatively,' demanding he either 'accelerate, slow down, go to war, or avoid war,' thereby complicating negotiations. Trump asserted, 'In the end, everything will work out—and it always has.'
However, the outlook for negotiations remains uncertain. According to Xinhua News Agency, Trump stated on May 29 that he would make a 'final decision' regarding U.S.-Iran talks, but subsequently proposed further revisions to the agreement text. Persistent and serious disagreements over Iran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz cast doubt on whether a deal can ultimately be finalized. As a critical global energy transit corridor, developments concerning the Strait of Hormuz directly impact commodity markets, and investors are closely monitoring the progress of negotiations.
Editor/melody