Analyst says Washington is maintaining military pressure while keeping negotiations alive*
By Mai Anati
AMMAN — President Donald Trump said the United States would launch fresh attacks on Iran on Wednesday, accusing Tehran's peace negotiators of "playing us for suckers."
Trump's remarks came after the two sides traded fire following the downing of a US helicopter, further straining a ceasefire that took effect in April, according to AFP.
"We hit them hard yesterday and we're going to hit them again hard today, in case you miss it, in case you don't turn on your television set," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
"And we'll see what happens with a deal. We were really close to a deal, but they keep tapping us along, they keep playing us for suckers."
The United States said on Tuesday it had completed a series of military strikes against Iran, marking a new escalation despite reports that negotiations to end the Middle East war had entered their final stages.
The strikes came a day after Iran downed a US Apache helicopter and only hours after President Donald Trump said negotiators were close to reaching an agreement aimed at ending months of regional conflict.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces launched "self-defence strikes against Iran at the direction of Trump.”
The military said that the operation was a proportional response to what it called an unprovoked Iranian attack.
Iranian media later reported fresh air strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, but provided no further details.
According to Axios, citing a US official, a third wave of strikes was under way, targeting Iranian air defence and radar systems near the strategic waterway.
The latest escalation came despite diplomatic efforts to secure a broader agreement following months of conflict across the region.
Trump said Tuesday that negotiations over a peace deal were in their final stages after Iran and Israel halted attacks that had threatened to reignite the war.
At the same time, he warned of the possibility of renewed conflict with Iran, underscoring the fragile nature of the diplomatic track despite ongoing negotiations.
Tensions nevertheless remain high.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Iranian forces would not leave any attack or threat unanswered.
He also warned that those seeking security should leave the region and accused Washington of testing Iran’s resolve despite battlefield setbacks.
Political analyst Amer Sabaileh said that the latest developments suggest Washington remains committed to a dual-track strategy that combines diplomacy with sustained military pressure.
"The United States continues to keep Iran under pressure through sanctions and military presence, while presenting its actions as defensive responses to Iranian behaviour,” he said.
"There are two parallel tracks. The first is maintaining negotiations, even if they become long-term. The second is keeping the American military machine in place, but under the framework of responding to Iranian actions,” Sabaileh added.
"This means Washington is still following the strategy it has pursued from the outset: maintaining pressure, preserving military leverage and leaving Iran with one option — returning to negotiations under American terms.”
The developments highlight the uncertainty surrounding ongoing diplomacy, with military escalation continuing even as efforts intensify to reach a broader agreement and prevent a return to wider regional conflict.
The Jordan Times
