Iran says it will reassess US peace talks after retaliatory attacks

Iran announced that it will reassess peace talks with the U.S. after retaliatory strikes, as US again initiated attacks after recent U.S. military strikes on Iranian targets.

According to multiple reports, Iran's Foreign Ministry said Tehran would reconsider peace talks with the U.S. after a complete ceasefire from both sides first.

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"Any diplomatic process requires a minimum stable environment," Esmaeil Baghaei said.

The statement came after the U.S. launched attacks that it described as retaliation for the downing of an American Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.

Recently, the latest U.S. actions and alleged ceasefire violations require a review of its diplomatic approach toward Washington.

In retaliation, Iran responded with missile and drone attacks against U.S.-linked military facilities in countries including Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan.

As reported by Reuters, the exchange of fire, which came after Trump said Iran had downed a U.S. Apache helicopter near the strait, marks one of the most significant escalations since Washington and Tehran agreed to a ceasefire in April.

"Iran is all talk and no action," Trump said in a social media post on Wednesday. "They've taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them; now they will have to pay the price!!!"

The U.S. military said it had targeted Iranian air defences, ground control stations and surveillance radar sites in what it described as a "proportional response" to the downing of the helicopter, whose two ‌crew members were rescued.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday Iran had taken too long to negotiate a deal and would now "have to pay the price," while Tehran said it would reassess diplomatic engagement with Washington after tit-for-tat strikes overnight.

Despite the escalation, some U.S. officials had expressed optimism as recently as this week that a diplomatic agreement with Iran was still possible.

The exchange of fire, which came after Trump said Iran had downed a U.S. Apache helicopter near the strait, marks one of the most significant escalations since Washington and Tehran agreed to a ceasefire in April.

"Iran is all talk and no action," Trump said in a social media post on Wednesday. "They've taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them; now they will have to pay the price!!!"

Iran's Gulf neighbors and Jordan activated air defenses to intercept incoming missiles, and there were no immediate reports of damage to U.S. bases.

The escalation initiated just days after Iran exchanged strikes with Israel for the first time since the ceasefire, casting fresh doubt on prospects for a deal to end the war, which began on February 28 with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.

The U.S. strikes lasted about four hours, with Central Command saying shortly on Wednesday that operations had ended. A U.S. official said nearly 20 Iranian targets were hit.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps IRGC said Qeshm Island and the port of Sirik were attacked.

Moreover, Iranian media also reported explosions in Bandar Abbas, another port city, and later near Jask at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.