Trump Cites Iran Ceasefire Violations as Wednesday Expiry Nears
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei on April 20 said Iran had “no plans” to attend the next round of negotiations.
MIDDLE EAST — On April 21, U.S. President Donald J. Trump posted, “Iran has Violated the Cease Fire numerous times!” one day before the April 22 Wednesday-evening expiry of the two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire.
Trump, on April 20, said the United States would “knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran” if Iran declined the current deal.
Iranian state-run media Tasnim, on the night of April 19 to 20, reported that “Iranian military forces launched drone strikes toward several US military vessels in the area in response” to the U.S. seizure of the Iranian-flagged cargo vessel M/V Touska.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has issued no corresponding statement on the claim and released no damage or casualty information.
CENTCOM on April 20 announced U.S. forces were patrolling the Arabian Sea near M/V Touska as the vessel’s container cargo was being searched after U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) boarded and seized the ship.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun, at a regular press conference on April 20, said, “The Strait of Hormuz is a strait for international passage,” expressing concern over the U.S. interception of the Iranian-flagged vessel.
Iranian state television on April 21 reported that no Iranian delegation had traveled to Islamabad for the second round of negotiations. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei on April 20 said Iran had “no plans” for attendance at the next round.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) joint command has announced retaliation, the Foreign Ministry has withdrawn from the current negotiating round, and the Wednesday-evening ceasefire deadline approaches without an announced extension.
