Iran suspends interim deal with US as both sides trade infrastructure strikes

The United States completed a seventh consecutive night of military strikes against Iran early Saturday, as Tehran announced it had formally suspended all commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and a senior military adviser warned that Iran is prepared to launch "full-scale offensive operations" if American attacks do not stop.

Widening Attacks on Both Sides

US Central Command said its latest strikes, which concluded at 9:30 p.m. ET on Friday, targeted Iranian surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities. The seventh night of bombardment followed daytime strikes on Friday that destroyed at least six bridges in Iran's southern Hormozgan province and collapsed a surveillance tower at Chabahar port, killing at least seven people, according to Iranian state media.youtube+4

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded with missile and drone attacks on US military facilities across the Gulf. The IRGC confirmed strikes on targets in Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait. Kuwait's power generation and water desalination infrastructure sustained repeated damage from Iranian attacks during the week, while Al Jazeera reported that Iranian forces described the latest wave as the largest escalation since the MoU was signed on June 17.iranintl+3

Diplomatic Framework Collapses

Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told Iranian state television on Saturday that Tehran has suspended its commitments under the interim agreement, accusing Washington of violating all of its obligations. "We have also suspended our commitments under the Islamabad memorandum of understanding and are not implementing them," Gharibabadi said. He added that Iran was "busy defending the country" and had no new information regarding possible talks with Washington.caliber+3

The MoU, signed on June 17, had established a 60-day negotiating window to reach a permanent end to the war, which began in February when US and Israeli forces struck Iran. The agreement called for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the US to lift its naval blockade, but the ceasefire unraveled after Iran attacked commercial shipping in early July.npr+3

Escalation Warnings

Major General Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, warned Friday on state television that Iran would move "beyond the military phase of deterrence" if US strikes continue for another two or three days. Rezaei said Iran would recognize "no political boundaries" in its attacks and that the United States should expect waves of missiles and drones.timesofisrael+2

Iranian authorities said at least 50 people have been killed and more than 500 wounded in US strikes over the past three weeks. The total reported death toll from the latest campaign stands at 39 killed and over 400 injured, according to Iran's Health Ministry.nypost+1