Iran's foreign ministry condemned on Thursday the latest US strikes on the country, saying the attacks rendered the nearly two-month ceasefire "practically meaningless.” In a statement, the ministry said "the illegal and criminal attacks perpetrated by the United States in recent hours not only constitute a flagrant violation... but also render the ceasefire practically meaningless.” It added that the "responsibility for the extremely serious consequences of this criminal act lies with the leaders of the United States.” Despite the foreign ministry statement, three Iranian sources told Reuters that efforts to reach a preliminary deal between Iran and the US have intensified, as they discuss a mechanism over releasing frozen Iranian funds. The sources said Iran and the US were still exchanging messages over details of a memorandum of understanding. The Iranian sources said a political understanding had been reached, but some issues remained to be discussed in detail, including a mechanism for the release of tens of billions of dollars of Iranian oil revenues frozen in foreign banks. "Iran wants $6 billion to $12 billion of its frozen funds to be released to Tehran, while Washington wants to release funds in stages for humanitarian goods and rejects returning funds to Iran outright," said one of the Iranian sources. CNN also reported, citing a diplomatic source, that talks to reach a deal are still on track after overnight negotiations. The US and Iran traded air attacks for a second straight day on Thursday, with President Donald Trump vowing further strikes if Tehran does not immediately agree to a peace deal. Qatari negotiators have departed Tehran following discussions on the war, a diplomat told AFP on Thursday. "The Qatari delegation departed from Tehran this morning following talks with Iranian officials... that lasted into the early hours of this morning," the diplomat said on condition of anonymity, adding the discussions were "conducted in coordination with the United States.” The US strikes overnight Thursday on Iran wounded at least three people at sites in Tehran province, Iranian media reported. "Three people were injured in incidents related to the brutal US attacks in Tehran province," said head of the province's emergency services Mohammad Esmail Tavakoli, according to the Fars news agency. The strikes were largely focused on southern Iran but the country's Revolutionary Guards said other sites near the capital were hit including in Karaj, Nazarabad and Pishva.
