Tehran, Iran. Israel and Iran exchanged airstrikes on Wednesday as Iran again rejected President Donald Trump’s claim that the United States was in negotiations to end the war, saying the U.S. was negotiating with itself.
Iran dismisses claims of negotiations
Iran’s unified joint military command, dominated by the Revolutionary Guards, rejected assertions that talks were under way, amid reports that the U.S. had sent a 15-point plan for discussion to Tehran.
Iranian joint military command spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaqari said on Iranian state television: “Has the level of your inner struggle reached the stage of you (Trump) negotiating with yourself?” He added: “People like us can never get along with people like you.”
Zolfaqari also said, “As we have always said… no one like us will make a deal with you. Not now. Not ever.”
Iran’s leadership has previously said it cannot negotiate with the United States because it has attacked Iran twice during high-level negotiations in the past two years.
Strikes continue as war enters fourth week
Four weeks into the war, which has killed thousands, created what was described as the worst energy shock in history, and sparked global inflation fears, airstrikes continued on Wednesday.
The Israeli Defense Forces said in a Telegram post that it had launched a wave of strikes targeting infrastructure across Tehran. Iran’s semi-official SNN News Agency reported the strikes hit a residential area in the city, with rescuers searching the rubble.
Drone attacks reported in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia said they had repelled fresh drone attacks, without stating where they originated. Kuwait’s Civil Aviation Authority said drones targeted a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, causing a fire but no casualties.
Iranian attacks reported against Israel and U.S. bases
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said it had launched a new wave of attacks against locations in Israel, including Tel Aviv and Kiryat Shmona, as well as U.S. bases in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain, Iranian state media reported.
What impact do you think continued airstrikes could have on energy and financial markets?