WASHINGTON: The United States launched new strikes on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, targeting a drone facility in Bandar Abbas and shooting down four Iranian drones as tensions escalated despite the US-Iran ceasefire.
The site in Bandar Abbas was struck while preparations were underway to launch a fifth drone, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said. Iranian media reported explosions in eastern parts of the city following the attack.
It was the second US military action against Iranian targets in three days, with Washington describing the operation as an act of self-defence.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that Washington is not yet satisfied with the terms of a possible agreement with Iran, while stressing that negotiations between the two sides are still ongoing.
Speaking to reporters during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said Iran was eager to reach a deal, but indicated that the current proposals had not met US expectations. He also clarified that the United States was not discussing any easing of sanctions.
“Iran is very much intent, they want very much to make a deal. So far, they haven’t gotten there … we’re not satisfied with it, but we will be. We will be either that or we’ll have to just finish the job,” Trump said.
“We can make a good deal right now, but maybe not a great deal — and if it’s not a great deal, we’re not making it,” he said.
.@POTUS on Iran: “We can make a good deal right now, but maybe not a great deal — and if it’s not a great deal, we’re not making it.” pic.twitter.com/TOQrMMcL5Y
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 27, 2026
“It’s very simple, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. I am doing this for the whole world not for the US only,” he said. “We’ve had great support from other nations. We need it all.”
Trump also said that he was not comfortable with Russia or China taking Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Nobody’s going to control the Strait of Hormuz
President Trump in his remarks said that nobody is going to control the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’ll watch over it, but nobody’s going to control it, that’s part of the negotiation that we have,” he said.
.@POTUS: “The Strait has gotta be open to everybody. It’s international waters… [Iran] would like to control it; nobody’s going to control it. It’s international waters.” pic.twitter.com/erNbdFhYuO
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 27, 2026
“The Strait has gotta be open to everybody. It’s international waters… [Iran] would like to control it; nobody’s going to control it. It’s international waters,” he said.
Tehran won’t receive sanctions relief for giving up highly enriched uranium
He said that Iran will not receive sanctions relief in exchange for moving its highly enriched uranium, which Washington has repeatedly named as a top priority.
“No, we’re not talking about any easing of sanctions or giving money,” he said.
“Is the U.S. considering easing sanctions on Iran to allow Iran to sell its crude to market?”@POTUS: “No, we’re not talking about any easing of sanctions or giving money.” pic.twitter.com/jAqSQOTlau
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 27, 2026
“We have great deal of respect for Pakistan, the Field Marshal, and the Prime Minister,” he said.
On April 8, Pakistan brokered a ceasefire between the US and Iran and intensified mediation efforts to permanently end the conflict through negotiations.
Last month, Pakistan hosted direct talks between the US and Iranian negotiators in Islamabad.
The Islamabad Talks between the US and Iran concluded without reaching a final agreement; however, they paved the way for diplomacy to permanently end the conflict.
‘Some progress’ made on Iran deal
Earlier US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has repeated that “diplomacy is always the first option” while warning that Trump has “other options” if a deal with Iran cannot be reached.
.@SecRubio provides an update at the Cabinet meeting: One of the places I stopped last night was to initial the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity in Armenia… and in addition to that, we also signed a critical minerals MoU with them. pic.twitter.com/iF5k7pscDg
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 27, 2026
“If there’s an agreement to be made, we want that to be made. I think there’s been some progress and some interest, and we’ll see over the next few hours and days whether progress can be made,” Rubio told reporters.
He added that Washington would “prefer the negotiated, diplomatic route”.
“The bottom line is Iran’s never going to have a nuclear weapon,” he added.
White House Rejects Iran State Media Reports
The White House has dismissed reports by Iranian state media claiming that Tehran had obtained an initial draft of unofficial framework of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States regarding an agreement to end the ongoing conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Calling the report “not true,” the White House said the alleged draft agreement was “a complete fabrication” and rejected any suggestion that such a document exists or has been circulated between the two sides.
According to the reports, the proposed framework suggests that Iran would restore commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to pre-conflict levels within one month. In return, the United States would reportedly withdraw its military forces from areas near Iran and lift a naval blockade.
The state media further claimed that the draft excludes military vessels and envisions Iran managing maritime traffic through the strategic waterway in coordination with Oman.
It also noted that the framework remains preliminary and has not been finalised, with Tehran stating it would take no concrete steps without “tangible verification” of commitments.
The report added that, if a final agreement is reached within 60 days, it could potentially be submitted for approval as a binding United Nations Security Council resolution.
