US Warplanes Strike Iranian Military Sites Near Chabahar Free Trade Zone

US warplanes targeted Iranian military facilities near the Chabahar Free Trade Zone, triggering several explosions in the surrounding area.

Reports citing Voice of America’s Persian-language service said the blasts occurred in a location situated behind the free trade zone.

The Chabahar Free Trade Zone lies in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province and is positioned close to the Pakistan border. The coastal hub is strategically important because it serves as a key trade and transport corridor along the Arabian Sea.

The reported airstrikes come during the continuing conflict in West Asia, which intensified after joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. Those strikes reportedly resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several senior military commanders.

Following the attacks, Iran launched retaliatory strikes targeting US-linked installations and civilian infrastructure across the Gulf region. The escalation has affected airports, ports and oil facilities.

The conflict has also disrupted maritime activity in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for global oil shipments. Reduced shipping movement through the strait has raised concerns in international energy markets and contributed to volatility in oil prices.

Despite the ongoing hostilities, senior officials in the administration of US President Donald Trump believe the war may conclude in the near future.

Speaking on ABC’s This Week, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said, “I think that this conflict will certainly come to an end in the next few weeks, could — could be sooner than that.”

Iran Rejects Ceasefire Speculation

Iran has strongly denied speculation that it is seeking a ceasefire with the United States.

During an interview on CBS’s Face the Nation, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stated, “No, we never asked for a cease-fire, and we have never asked even for negotiation.”

Araghchi stressed, “We are ready to defend ourselves as long as it takes,” adding that the country remains capable of sustaining its response for as long as necessary.

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