Tehran [Iran], May 27: Iran's foreign ministry says that US strikes in Iran's southern Hormozgan province represent a "gross violation" of the fragile ceasefire in place since early April.
The commander of the Revolutionary Guard's Aerospace Force, Seyed Majid Moosavi, said it is prepared to respond, criticising ongoing diplomacy, saying "negotiation with the enemy is pure loss" in a post on X.
He said the air force - which oversees Iran's strategic ballistic missile and drone programmes - remains "highly vigilant, fully prepared for a decisive, swift response," and is awaiting final orders from their commander-in-chief.
Both sides had indicated progress on a memorandum of understanding that could halt the war and restart shipping through the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's top negotiator, Mohammad Baqr Qalibaf, its foreign minister and its central bank governor were in Doha on Monday for talks on a potential deal, an official briefed on the visit said.
Qalibaf has now returned to Iran after consultations with Qatari officials, Iran's state television has reported.
He has been seeking agreement on the release of about $24bn in Iranian funds frozen overseas as part of the memorandum of understanding, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported, citing a source close to the negotiating team.
Iran's Fars news agency cited a source saying that the unfreezing of the funds was the last serious sticking point for the memorandum of understanding to be finalised.
According to Iranian sources, an initial deal would cover ending the war on all fronts, establishing a 30-day framework for movement through the Strait of Hormuz, and possibly providing some financial relief, with more complex issues such as Iran's nuclear programme to be negotiated in a second phase. Iran has been letting some ships through, giving preference to ships linked to countries with which it has alliances or close ties, and striking government-to-government agreements, the news agency Reuters has reported.
US President Donald Trump has said his key aim in the war is to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon with its highly enriched uranium. Tehran has consistently denied it has plans to do that
Trump had said talks with Iran were going "nicely" in a lengthy post on Truth Social on Monday, but warned of new attacks if they failed. It "will only be a Great Deal for all, or no Deal at all," he wrote.
Source: Qatar Tribune