TEHRAN (Realist English). On 6 May, the conflict between the US and Iran demonstrated a paradoxical duality: statements about a ceasefire and progress in talks coexisted with a direct military clash in the Gulf of Oman, where a US fighter disabled an Iranian tanker.
At the same time, Israel carried out an airstrike on Beirut, killing a Hezbollah commander, and declared its readiness for new large‑scale strikes on Iran. On the diplomatic track, signs of a possible rapprochement emerged, but official Tehran calls reports of an imminent deal a “wish list”.
Conflict in the Gulf of Oman: tanker M/T Hasna incident
On the morning of 6 May, US forces operating under the previously announced blockade of Iranian ports detected a violation. The Iranian‑flagged tanker M/T Hasna was heading towards an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.
According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the vessel received several warnings but ignored them. After the crew failed to comply, an F/A‑18 Super Hornet fighter launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) fired several rounds from its 20mm cannon, disabling the tanker’s rudder.
CENTCOM stressed that the tanker “is no longer heading toward Iran” and that the blockade remains fully in force. Experts in maritime law and geopolitics note that such incidents are a direct consequence of the standoff between two blockades: Iran’s in the strait itself and America’s on the approaches to it.
“This is the first time the US has used aviation to stop a target heading toward Iran rather than leaving it. It is a subtle but important change, indicating that the Americans are seeking to create complete maritime isolation of the country,” commented Gonzalo Hidalgo, an analyst at a naval affairs portal.
Operation “Freedom”: pause and Trump’s political manoeuvres
The clash occurred just one day after President Donald Trump announced the suspension of “Project Freedom”. The military mission to escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz has been put on hold “for a short period of time” so as not to interfere with diplomatic efforts.
According to Trump, the decision was made at the request of Pakistan and several other countries. In his statement, he also described the progress in talks as “great” and said the blockade would continue until a deal is reached.
At the same time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed at a White House briefing that the US military campaign against Iran, “Epic Fury”, has officially ended, but stressed that Iran must not be allowed “to normalise the situation where they blow up commercial ships and lay mines in the water.”
Rubio also said the blockade is costing Iran $500 million per day.
These contradictory steps in US policy are bewildering even allies.
Mark Thornton, a former Pentagon adviser on the Middle East, called the situation “schizophrenic”: “On the one hand, they strike Iranian vessels and threaten more bombing; on the other, they publicly declare the military campaign over and announce pauses. This creates dangerous uncertainty that could trigger escalation by mistake from one side.”
Israeli strike on Beirut and position on Iran
Apart from tensions in the Persian Gulf, a new escalation occurred on the Lebanese‑Israeli front on 6 May. Israel launched an airstrike on a suburb of Beirut.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that the target was a commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan unit. The strike was the first since the fragile ceasefire was concluded, indicating Israel’s desire to retain the right to “pre‑emptive” attacks regardless of the negotiating process with larger players. According to Israeli military figures, more than 2,000 Hezbollah fighters have been killed since the start of the conflict.
On the Iranian front, Israel’s military leadership is demonstrating full readiness for escalation. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, speaking on 6 May, stated that Israel has additional targets in Iran for attack and that the army is ready to immediately return to an “intensive and wide campaign” deepening the damage already inflicted.
He also confirmed that troops in southern Lebanon have no restrictions on the use of force against Hezbollah. Israeli Air Force Commander Omer Tishler added that the air force is ready to deploy its full power “to the east” – toward Iran.
Alec Sellers, an expert on Israeli security at the Middle East Institute, notes: “The Israeli leadership is betting on escalation dominance: they want to show that no ceasefire will deprive them of the right to strike any threat at any time. This is a very risky strategy that could lead to miscalculations.”
Diplomatic impasse: “wish list” and ultimatums
Against the backdrop of military action, the diplomatic process is experiencing a series of mutually exclusive statements. On the one hand, Trump expressed “very great optimism” and said an agreement was “very possible.” Media, including Axios, reported on the preparation of a memorandum to end the war for 30 days and on nuclear talks. Iranian media, however, denied this information, calling it a “fabrication” and an “American wish list.”
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said that the US proposal is still being considered. Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad‑Baquer Ghalibaf, in turn, warned that the US is seeking the “capitulation” of Iran through economic pressure and blockade. Despite this, the US still expects an official response from Tehran to continue the talks.
The Iranian parliament, expressing the opinion of the military leadership, openly stated that it does not rule out the possibility of military attack or terrorist acts by the US and Israel. At the same time, Iranian propaganda itself is making incredible statements about possible “non‑standard” methods of warfare.
