Iran Strikes U.S. Base Four Days After Suspension of Airstrikes... At a Crossroads for Escalation

First Attack on U.S. Base Since Airstrikes Halted

U.S. Military: "All Missiles Intercepted"

Diplomatic Approach of President Trump Put to the Test

Focus on Whether Military Action Against Iran Will Resume

Iran Pressures U.S. Using Hormuz as Leverage

Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles at a U.S. military base in Jordan. This marks the first time Iran has attacked a U.S. base in the region with ballistic missiles since the United States suspended airstrikes on Iran in an effort to pursue a diplomatic solution.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced in a statement on the 28th (local time) that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched several ballistic missiles targeting a U.S. military base in Jordan at about 5:45 p.m. Eastern Time.

CENTCOM characterized the attack as an "attempted surprise attack." It said all the missiles launched were intercepted, and that U.S. forces remain at a high level of readiness. It did not immediately disclose whether there were any casualties or damage to facilities.

This attack occurred four days after U.S. President Donald Trump halted airstrikes, stating on the 24th that he would give diplomacy with Iran another chance. This has increased the possibility that the tenuous ceasefire maintained between the U.S. and Iran could be broken.

If the United States retaliates, the recently resumed diplomatic discussions could be suspended, and military conflict between both sides may escalate again. President Trump is now faced with the decision of whether to resume military action against Iran or maintain the course of diplomatic negotiations.

Previously, President Trump expressed a desire to avoid further military confrontation with Iran but warned that if no agreement is reached, he would target key bridges and power plants.

In an interview with Fox News the same day, President Trump said, "We are currently in a very strong position," and, "Iran knows that if it does not make a deal, I will attack." He went on to threaten, "Bridges could disappear in less than an hour, and most major bridges could be gone within two hours," adding, "Power plants could disappear in a day."

However, he also stated, "If there’s a way to avoid it, I would prefer not to do so," leaving open the possibility of a diplomatic resolution. He also announced that Iran's desalination facilities would not be targeted due to concerns over civilian casualties.

Iran Denies Negotiations With the U.S.… Uncertainty Over Hormuz Talks

Following the ceasefire, diplomatic discussions have focused primarily on resuming ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Bloomberg, Omani and Iranian negotiating teams met in Tehran over the past weekend to discuss management of the strait and are continuing negotiations.

Sources said that if an agreement is reached to expand ship passage, the U.S. and Iran could resume official negotiations on Iran's nuclear program and move toward discussions to end the conflict.

However, Iran distanced itself from President Trump's claims that direct negotiations are underway with the United States.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said at a press conference the previous day, "There are currently no ongoing negotiations with the United States" and, "The current situation cannot be described as a ceasefire." He emphasized that Iran’s negotiating counterpart is not the U.S., but Oman, and that the core of the talks is the issue of managing the Strait of Hormuz.

The New York Times (NYT) reported that Iran’s leadership appears to view the current situation as a stalemate between peace and all-out war, and believes it can manage this state. The report added that Iran sees oil prices and the Strait of Hormuz as leverage to pressure President Trump.

Axios reported that this attack could break the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran and pressure President Trump to decide whether or not to resume military action against Iran.

However, both sides remain reluctant to return to full-scale war. As the NYT reported, Iran's missile inventory and its ability to sustain a prolonged conflict remain unknown, and the United States is concerned about its decreasing air defense ammunition, the possibility of further escalation, and the impact on Gulf allies and the global energy supply.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.