WASHINGTON: The US military said it has launched new strikes on targets in southern Iran, hitting Iranian missile sites and boats allegedly attempting to place naval mines.
US Central Command said in a statement that the strikes were carried out in “self-defense” and aimed at “protecting our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces”.
A Central Command spokesperson said the US military “continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire”.
“US forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” Tim Hawkins, a US Central Command spokesman, said in a statement.
It gave no details of the attacks and said only that the targets included missile launch sites and boats trying to “emplace mines.”
According to BBC, the strikes came as Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai said some progress had been made in talks with Washington, but warned that a deal to end the conflict “is not imminent”.
Iran has not yet responded to the latest US strikes, and it remains unclear what impact the attacks could have on any potential peace agreement between Tehran and Washington, rep[orts BBC.
At the weekend, President Donald Trump suggested the United States and Iran were close to reaching a deal, but later said he had instructed negotiators “not to rush into” an agreement.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said a deal could possibly be reached on Monday.
However, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai cautioned against expectations of an imminent breakthrough.
“It is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion,” Baqai said on Monday.
“But to say that this means the signing of an agreement is imminent — no one can make such a claim.”
The United States and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on February 28, triggering conflict across the Middle East.
Iran responded by launching attacks on Israel and US-allied Gulf states and effectively shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, sending global oil prices sharply higher.
According to AFP, hopes for an accord in recent days were dealt another blow when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “crush” Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran has demanded that any peace accord apply to the fighting in Lebanon as well.
Enriched Uranium
US President Donald Trump said in a social media post that he expected Iran to hand over its enriched uranium to the United States to be destroyed, or have it destroyed in Iran with an international witness.
“The Enriched Uranium (Nuclear Dust!) will either be immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed or, preferably, in conjunction and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place or, at another acceptable location, with the Atomic Energy Commission, or its equivalent, being witness to this process and event,” Trump wrote.
“The Enriched Uranium (Nuclear Dust!) will either be immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed or, preferably, in conjunction and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place or…” – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/Ss5ae2uY3T
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 25, 2026
It was not clear whether he meant this was part of an emerging accord with Iran.
The Atomic Energy Commission that Trump cited was abolished in 1974, and its functions were divided between two successor bodies.
