The IRGC struck a US airbase Thursday. This followed American attacks on Iranian military sites near the Hormuz Strait, threatening an April ceasefire .

The 4:50 AM Strike on a US Airbase

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) confirmed it launched a retaliatory attack on a US airbase at 4:50 am local time on Thursday. This escalation occurred just hours after American forces targeted Iranian military installations near the Strait of Hormuz. While the IRGC warned that any further "aggression" would meet a more decisive response, the group did not disclose the specific location of the airbase it targeted, as reported by the source.

Prior to the IRGC's strike, the US military intercepted and destroyed four Iranian one-way attack drones near the Strait of Hormuz. According to a US Central Command official, American forces also struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas to prevent the launch of a fifth drone. Washington has characterized these actions as measured, defensive measures intended to protect commercial shipping and American personnel.

A Fragile Truce Since the February 28 Outbreak

This latest exchange of fire threatens to dismantle a ceasefire that has been in place since April. This truce followed a three-month conflict that began on February 28, triggered by US and Israeli operations against Iran.. According to the report, that initial conflict resulted in thousands of casualties and caused global energy prices to spike due to the volatility of the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that handles roughly one-third of the world's seaborne oil.

The current situation reflects a broader pattern of "measured" escalation. Since the April ceasefire took effect, the US military has conducted multiple rounds of strikes targeting Iranian missile sites , drone launch units, and boats suspected of laying mines. This cycle of limited strikes and retaliations suggests that neither side has fully committed to a lasting peace,with the IRGC stating its military remains "lying in wait with full magazines."

Trump's 'Finish the Job' Warning and the Oman Mediation

Diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region are currently strained by conflicting signals from Washington. During a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the deal offers provided by Iran. While acknowledging that Tehran wants to reach an agreement, Trump warned that the US might have to "finish the job"—resuming full military operations—if a satisfactory deal is not reached.

Oman has served as a primary interlocutor in these negotiations, attempting to bridge the gap between the two adversaries. however, the mediation process is complicated by fundamental disagreements over the Strait of Hormuz. president Donald Trump explicitly rejected reports suggesting that Iran and Oman could jointly control the waterway, insisting that the Strait must remain open to all international traffic.

The Disputed Memorandum of Understanding and the White House Denial

A significant narrative gap has emerged regarding the actual terms of ongoing negotiations. Iranian state television claimed on Wednesday that a draft memorandum of understanding with Washington included commitments to withdraw US forces from the Gulf, restore traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, and lift the naval blockade on Iran. The White House, however, dismissed these reports as a "complete fabrication."

Several critical questions remain unanswered. Most notably, the specific location of the US airbase targeted by the IRGC has not been revealed, leaving the full scale of the attack unclear. Furthermore,while Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged "some progress" in talks, it remains unverified whether any formal written agreements exist or if the "progress" is merely rhetorical. The source reports only the claims of the two opposing governments, leaving the true status of the memorandum of understanding in doubt.