BUSINESS
U.S. Bombs Iran For Second-Straight Day
An Apache helicopter flown by two U.S. pilots was downed near the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week, with both crewmen surviving the crash.
By Vannessa Viljoen ·
Topline
The U.S. renewed strikes against Iran on Wednesday, bombing targets in the country again less than a day after American military forces completed attacks following the downing of a U.S. helicopter early this week.
Key Facts
U.S. Central Command said in a statement it was carrying out the latest strikes “in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression.”
Central Command did not mention the helicopter downing in its statement, but said “additional self-defense strikes” were made against multiple targets.
Two U.S. pilots were rescued Monday after President Donald Trump said Iran downed a helicopter and the U.S. “must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
The ongoing strikes threaten to upend a fragile ceasefire that was established between the U.S. and Iran as they sought to establish a longer-term peace agreement. However, Trump said Wednesday that Iran would “pay the price” for taking too long on negotiations, accusing the country of “playing us for suckers.”
Key Background
The ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran has been in effect for over a month and has been hindered by alleged violations from both countries, which have been at war since late February. Trump has declared victory over Iran multiple times since then, even as the country has maintained a partial blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, where roughly 20% of the world’s oil trade passes. The U.S. appeared close to a peace agreement with Iran in April, when Trump said a deal had been “largely negotiated,” though speculation about the deal’s terms, which reportedly included unfreezing billions of dollars of Iranian assets, received flak from some Republicans and conservative media figures. Trump accused Iran of being “all talk and no action” Wednesday morning and touted the partial U.S. blockade established on the Strait of Hormuz.
Further Reading
Trump Says U.S. Will ‘Hit’ Iran Again Today—After Previously Criticizing Lengthy Peace Talks (Forbes)
U.S. Completes Retaliatory Bombing On Iran After Downed Helicopter (Forbes)