US-Iran Tensions Escalate: Tankers on Fire in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Revolutionary Guard says it struck a facility in Bahrain used by the U.S. military. It says the attack was in response to what it's describing as hostile actions by Washington. The IRGC says that it targeted an early warning radar system at al-Rifa base. But Bahrain says its air defenses intercepted the attacks. Iran targeted Bahrain on Friday as well. The U.S. said that attack was unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Iran is also reporting that two oil tankers have caught fire after hitting naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. There have been several similar incidents in recent days. On Friday, the Revolutionary Guard released footage showing a tanker burning and says the vessels were travelling through the Strait without authorisation. Let's go to our correspondent, Rasul Serda, who's live in Tehran for us. Rasul, so this is the second time in just three days that Iran has launched drones towards U.S. military installations in Bahrain. What is Tehran trying to achieve through these repeated attacks? Well, it seems that Iran has changed the rule of engagement, Malin. So we have seen for weeks the United States was conducting some of the military operations on some Iranian military posts, particularly the radar systems and the telecommunications towers, but Iran was not responding then. On Friday, that course has changed, and Iran also started to fire back at the American military assets in the region, particularly Bahrain. So now the IRGC is releasing a statement and saying that they have fired six drones to the U.S. air defense radar installation at Arifa helicopter base. And also in the same statement, they say, well, it was a precise and successful operation. So then... The reason why they have done it is, according to the IRGC, is because of the United States attempting to smuggle oil through the Strait of Hormuz. So that is referring to the ships, the vessels that are passing through the Strait of Hormuz without a coordination with the Iranian authorities. It is just... To remind our viewers, Iran is saying that Strait of Hormuz is under Tehran's control and it has its new regulations and the terms. So any vessel that is passing through the Strait of Hormuz has to have a full coordination with Iranian authorities and pass through the lanes that are determined by Tehran. So any vessel that does not follow these conditions are regarded as a legitimate target because Iran is saying that this is an act of oil smuggling. So, and in the same statement, I am just also saying that so clearly the Strait of Hormuz is closed, whether the ships are escorted by the United States forces or not. If they are not in full coordination with the Iranian authorities, they cannot pass. It is closed. And Rasul, we've also heard from Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Ghalibaf, today. Does that give us any inkling to where we stand on the diplomatic front, especially given these latest escalations? Well, regarding diplomacy, both sides have said that there are some of the progresses. However, the statement, the official statement that are coming are indicating a deadlock. So, Mohammad Bakr Khalibaf is not only a parliament speaker, but he is the chief negotiator of Iran and is a heavyweight figure in the Iranian political and military establishment. And today he has released a statement saying that, I have emphasized it before, and now I am emphasizing it again, the state of neither war nor peace will not remain. Previously, in one of his statements just a couple of days ago, he said that Iran is determined to put an end to this state of no this state of neither war nor peace, not necessarily through diplomatic engagement, but to do sustainable deterrence. And what we have seen today, Iran firing drones to Bahrain seems to be to make a sense in this context. Iranians are saying that now as there is a blockade over Iran and now Sancom is going after the ground routes and the trade routes through the Caspian Sea on. So Iran is feeling that it is entirely being being blockaded. And they say, well, they're not going to continue that. So the parliament speaker and the chief negotiator is saying that we do not care whether the United States. Once peace negotiations or war this when you see actually is in line with what president of the United States Donald Trump also said that they are not interested any in any deal with with Iran. But he's warning Muhammad Bakr Khalifa saying that we have seven conditions and if the United States accept that they will there will be a political process. But if not if the United States return to the war he's saying the consequences will affect many parties. Russell, many thanks for that. Russell Soto there with the latest in Tehran.