A fragile ceasefire appeared to hold on Saturday following American strikes on two Iranian oil tankers, as Bahrain announced the arrest of dozens of individuals allegedly linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard. The United States is awaiting Tehran's response to its latest proposal for a comprehensive agreement.
US Military Actions
The US military reported on Friday that its forces disabled two Iranian tankers attempting to breach an American blockade of Iran's ports. Earlier that day, the military said it thwarted attacks on three Navy ships and struck Iranian military installations in the Strait of Hormuz. Video footage released by the US military showed an American fighter jet striking the smokestacks of the Iranian tankers. Earlier in the week, another US jet shot out the rudder of a tanker allegedly trying to break the blockade.
A US strike overnight killed at least one sailor and injured ten others aboard a cargo vessel that caught fire, according to a news agency affiliated with Iran's judiciary. It remains unclear whether this vessel was one of the two tankers acknowledged by the US.
Bahrain Arrests
Bahrain's Ministry of Interior announced on Saturday the arrest of 41 people it claims are part of a group linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Investigations are ongoing to take further action against anyone affiliated with the group, though no additional details were provided. Bahrain, a Sunni-led monarchy with a majority Shiite population, has faced criticism from rights groups for using the Iran-US war as a pretext to suppress dissent at home.
Diplomatic Efforts
The attacks on Friday cast doubt on the month-old ceasefire, which US President Donald Trump insists is still in effect. Washington is awaiting Tehran's response to its proposal to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and roll back Iran's nuclear program. Iran has largely blocked the strategic waterway since the war began on February 28, causing global fuel price spikes and market volatility.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated on Friday that Tehran is not paying attention to "deadlines" and continues reviewing the US proposal, according to state-run IRNA. Meanwhile, a top Iranian official, Mazaher Hosseini, claimed that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in "complete health" after suffering knee and back injuries that have largely healed. Khamenei has not been seen publicly since the war started, fueling speculation about his condition.
International Calls for Calm
Russia's foreign ministry called for continued diplomatic efforts to reach a "sustainable, long-term agreement" to end the war, with support from Saudi Arabia. Egyptian and Qatari top diplomats reiterated that diplomacy is the only path to a solution. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said his country has been in contact with the US and Iran "day and night" to extend the ceasefire and achieve a peace deal.
