The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced today that it attacked the Iranian government's Underwater Research Center in Isfahan. This operation, part of an airstrike campaign, followed intelligence from Israeli naval intelligence.

Iranian naval officers stand on the Ghadir-942 submarine at Bandar Abbas port, at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, in 11/2018. *AFP*

According to the IDF, this center is Iran's only facility responsible for designing and developing submarines and their support systems for the Iranian navy. It also develops various types of unmanned surface vessels.

This strike follows a previous IDF attack on 24/3, which targeted Iran's "most important explosives production facility" in Isfahan. That incident was part of a series of airstrikes on dozens of sites in the city, including ballistic missile launch sites, weapons production facilities, and air defense systems.

In retaliation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced this morning that it launched a barrage of precision-guided missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These targeted Israel and US military bases stationed in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain.

Bright missile streaks appeared in the sky over Israel's coastal city of Netanya. Air raid sirens blared across the country's central region.

Iranian missiles in the sky over Netanya, Israel, early on 25/3. *AFP*

Iranian UAVs also struck a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, causing a large fire. In Jordan, authorities reported multiple objects falling near the capital Amman. Air raid warnings also sounded in Bahrain.

On the same day, the Iranian military claimed it launched cruise missiles toward the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which was operating in the Arabian Sea off Iran's coast. Iran warned of "other powerful attacks" if the US carrier strike group entered range.

"The navy's Qader cruise missiles targeted the USS Abraham Lincoln and forced the ship to change position", the Iranian military's statement indicated, implicitly admitting the missiles did not hit their target.

These military actions by Israel and Iran occur as US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about an impending agreement with Tehran.

The US President revealed that Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner are all involved in the negotiation efforts.

Sources indicate that a 15-point ceasefire proposal from the US was conveyed to Iran via Pakistan. However, Tehran has not yet responded.

Location of Isfahan province and city in Iran. *BBC*

The proposal reportedly addresses various issues: easing sanctions, civilian nuclear cooperation, scaling back Iran's nuclear program, oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), limiting Iran's missile program, and the movement of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

Senior Iranian officials have so far denied reports of direct or indirect negotiations with the US. The conflict has now entered its fourth week, causing more than 3,000 deaths and disrupting the global energy sector.

Vu Hoang (According to AFP, Reuters)