The United States is simultaneously bombing Iranian military infrastructure and negotiating a deal with Tehran.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated on May 22-23 that talks have made “some progress,” with Pakistani officials serving as intermediaries between Washington and Tehran. Meanwhile, US military strikes have targeted key Iranian sites including Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, facilities central to Iran’s nuclear and military apparatus.
Bombs and handshakes at the same time
Oil prices have been whipsawing on fears that the conflict could disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. That narrow waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula handles roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply on any given day.
The strikes on Fordo and Natanz are particularly significant. Fordo is a uranium enrichment facility built deep inside a mountain, specifically designed to survive aerial bombardment. Natanz has been at the center of Iran’s nuclear program for decades. Isfahan hosts key nuclear research and military production facilities.
