Iran targets American strongholds around the Gulf while US hits more Iranian military sites
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IRBIL, Iraq (AP) -- Iran targeted American strongholds around the Persian Gulf on Friday, while the U.S. bombarded Iranian military sites as the rivals showed no sign of backing away from their conflict after a 13th straight night of strikes.
With fighting flaring again and diplomacy appearing to sputter, both sides made moves suggesting an escalation was possible. U.S. embassies in the Middle East began alerting Americans in the region that options to leave could become more limited, while Iran's Revolutionary Guard advised residents of neighboring countries to stay away from bases with U.S. troops.
Vowing that Iran "will not bow to U.S." bullying, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi noted ongoing discussions with two global powers often at odds with Americans -- China and Russia -- and warned in an interview with the semiofficial news outlet Tasnim that the Islamic Republic is "neither intimidated by threats nor will we yield to pressure."
U.S. President Donald Trump described current negotiations with Iran as "by far the most serious that we've seen," even as the U.S. has launched daily strikes.
"We're locked and loaded and ready to go, but we're talking to them," Trump told reporters Friday, adding that he's "not in a hurry" to end the war.