- By Ajeet Kumar
- Thu, 28 May 2026 07:34 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
- US forces struck Iranian military facility defensively.
- Four Iranian attack drones downed near Hormuz.
- Oil prices rebounded after US strikes.
US forces carried out new defensive strikes on Wednesday on an Iranian military facility after downing Iranian attack drones, according to US officials. The officials, who were not authorised to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, told news agency AP that the US Central Command forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz.
US forces also struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone, according to the officials.
Trump rejects Hormuz deal
The strikes came after President Donald Trump asserted on Wednesday that Iran is "negotiating on fumes" and insisted that November's midterm elections will not make him rush into a deal to end the nearly three-month-old conflict that has spurred unease across the global economy.
Speaking at the start of a Cabinet meeting, Trump expressed confidence that a deal is near. Over the weekend, he even declared that his administration and Tehran had "largely negotiated" a settlement, though the talks are still in flux.
ALSO READ: Trump Says Iran Wants A Deal, Warns Of ‘Finishing The Job’ If Talks Fail
The president is looking for a settlement that will reopen the Strait of Hormuz and provide him with a credible argument that Iran's nuclear capability has been diminished enough to declare victory, winding down a conflict that has been politically unpopular for Republicans. But as things stand, Trump also risks finding that closure to his war of choice comes with an unsatisfactory ending.
Oil prices rebound
Oil prices jumped about 2 per cent in early Thursday trading after Reuters reported fresh U.S. strikes overnight on an Iranian military site, escalating tensions even as Washington and Tehran negotiate to end their three-month conflict.
Brent crude futures rose USD 1.90, or 2.02 per cent, to USD 96.19 a barrel by 0015 GMT, while the more active August contract gained USD 1.64 or 1.78%, to USD 93.89. The U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures were up USD 1.73, or 1.95 per cent, at USD 90.41.
Both benchmarks slipped more than 5 per cent, to touch their lowest in a month in the previous session on the possibility of a US-Iran deal to end their war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
(With inputs from agencies)
You may also like to watch