Tehran [Iran], May 2 : 14 members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were killed and two others injured in an explosion while carrying out ordnance clearance operations in northwestern Iran, according to Iranian media.
The state-linked Fars News Agency reported that the incident occurred in Zanjan province when unexploded ordnance detonated during a specialised clearance mission.
The personnel were part of a unit assigned to remove and neutralise leftover munitions in the area, which local authorities say has posed a continuing safety threat to civilians and farmland. Fars News Agency said the region has approximately 1,200 hectares of agricultural land at risk due to the presence of unexploded ordnance.
Earlier on Thursday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that the Trump administration shifted from the strategy of "managing the world's energy" to "disruption", and Iran has now become the centre of the "coalition against disruption."
The IRGC said that the disruption project was launched by the US to contain China, Russia and Europe.
In a post on X, the IRGC said, "The Trump administration shifted from the strategy of "managing the world's energy" to "disruption," and a maritime blockade began as part of the grand disruption project to contain China, Russia, and Europe; but after 20 days, this assessment is deepening in the White House that the project has failed and Tehran has become the center of the 'coalition against disruption'."
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) expressed dissatisfaction with Iran's latest proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, while also casting doubt on whether a final agreement can be reached.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said, "They want to make a deal, but I'm not satisfied with it, so we'll see what happens."
He did not elaborate on the specific aspects of the proposal he found unacceptable but indicated uncertainty over Tehran's willingness to ultimately agree to a settlement.
"They've made strides, but I'm not sure if they ever get there," Trump added, while speaking on the White House's South Lawn.
The US President also pointed to internal divisions within Iran's leadership, suggesting that disunity could be affecting the negotiation process.
"The leadership is very disjointed. It's got two to three groups, maybe four, and it's a very disjointed leadership. And with that being said, they all want to make a deal, but they're all messed up," the US President said.
His remarks come after Iran submitted its latest proposal aimed at advancing negotiations to end the ongoing West Asia conflict with the US, in response to recent amendments introduced by Washington to a draft plan aimed at ending the conflict.