Diplomatic source: Talks between the U.S. and Iran are still ongoing

Despite the overnight strikes by the United States and Iran, a diplomatic source confirmed to CNN this morning (Thursday) that talks between Washington and Tehran on an agreement to end the war are still continuing. The report comes in contrast to Iran’s threats from yesterday, after it claimed that any American strike would lead to an immediate suspension of the negotiations. Meanwhile, a Pakistani source told the Saudi channel Al-Hadath that the gaps in the negotiations are still large. According to him, "We are still far from signing a peace agreement today."

As a reminder, after a long series of threats from senior U.S. administration officials, the U.S. military announced overnight the launch of a strike operation against Iranian targets. According to American officials, the strikes focused on targets in southern Iran and included air defense systems, radars, communication facilities, command and control centers, and units connected to the operation of drones. At the same time, reports in Iran said explosions were heard in several locations in the south of the country, including the port areas of Kargan and Asaluyeh and other areas near the Persian Gulf.

Shortly after the start of the American strikes, the Revolutionary Guards announced that they had begun a retaliatory operation against American targets in the Middle East. According to statements published in Tehran, American bases in Bahrain, Kuwait and other countries in the region were attacked. Later, the Revolutionary Guards reported that they fired 12 ballistic missiles at Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan, which is also used by U.S. forces. The Iranians further claimed that they hit 18 different targets at American bases across the Gulf.