ghazi52
THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
Deal or no deal?
During the US strikes, Iranian media reported at least two series of explosions along Iran’s southern coast near the Strait of Hormuz.Hours earlier, Trump had said talks to end the three-month-long war were in their final stages — a claim he has made repeatedly in the past few weeks.
Asked whether it would be a matter of days or weeks, the US leader said it would take “two or three days”.
But after the downing of the helicopter on Monday, Trump said in a telephone interview with ABC News that the United States was responding “in a strong manner”.
“And I believe the response should be very strong, very powerful, and that’s what this one is,” he said.
The shaky ceasefire between Washington and Tehran already faced a serious test over the weekend when Iran and Israel briefly resumed their attacks, before later announcing a halt.
Iran has insisted any deal to end the war must include a truce in Lebanon, which was drawn into the conflict when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel on March 2.
Israel responded with an extensive campaign of airstrikes and a ground invasion that has killed more than 3,600 people. Exchanges of fire with Hezbollah have not stopped despite a nominal truce.




