U.S.-Iran Negotiations Stall as Iran Attacks U.S. Base in Jordan

Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran have stalled, as Iran rejected a proposal to evenly divide control of the Strait of Hormuz with Oman. This is Iran’s deputy foreign minister. Kazem Gharibabadi: “We told them explicitly that under no circumstances are they permitted to do so. We said that if any warships approach the Strait of Hormuz for this purpose, or if they bring equipment or any vessel or any other assets for mine-clearing operations near the Strait of Hormuz, they will be considered legitimate targets by the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Despite the lull in fighting, Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles toward a U.S. military base in Jordan on Tuesday. The U.S. Central Command called it an “attempted surprise attack.” This comes amid new reporting from Reuters that China is expected to deliver shoulder-fired air-defense missile launchers to Iran within weeks. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia joined the U.S. in striking what they claim to be Iranian proxies in Iraq on Tuesday. In Yemen, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels claimed to have launched a missile attack on a Saudi oil tanker Tuesday. www.democracynow.org