US says it downed Iranian drones and struck targets in Iran despite ceasefire

Washington, United States. The US military said on Friday it shot down four Iranian drones, struck targets inside Iran, and intercepted seven missiles headed toward Bahrain and Kuwait, despite an existing US-Iran ceasefire. Diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran were described as being at a complete standstill.

Military actions reported

The US military announced that it had downed four Iranian drones and intercepted seven missiles directed at Bahrain and Kuwait. It also said it had hit targets inside Iran, in the latest confrontation between the two countries.

Diplomatic deadlock

An adviser to Iran’s supreme leader told CNN that negotiations had reached a deadlock and said the next move depended on President Donald Trump. The adviser also demanded that the United States unfreeze billions of dollars in Iranian assets.

Trump comments

Trump said he remained optimistic and expected the conflict to end soon, either “with a piece of paper or in a more difficult way.”

Regional fighting complicates talks

Efforts to end the war have been further complicated by ongoing fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. Tehran has said those hostilities must end completely before any US-Iran peace agreement can be reached.

Israel-Lebanon truce developments

Israel and Lebanon agreed this week to renew their truce, but Hezbollah rejected the agreement. Reports on Friday said Israeli strikes targeted southern Lebanon.