The United States military carried out “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran on Monday despite ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran. US President Donald Trump said talks with Iran were “proceeding nicely” even as the military operation unfolded.
According to the United States Central Command, American forces targeted missile launch sites and Iranian boats allegedly placing mines near the Strait of Hormuz. US officials said the strikes aimed to protect American troops from threats posed by Iranian forces during the ceasefire period.
“U.S. forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” Capt. Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson, said, as quoted by FOX News.
“Targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines. U.S. Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” Hawkins added.
Officials did not release further details about the threats or the possible impact on negotiations.
Trump Demands Iran Hand Over Enriched Uranium
Trump again demanded that Iran surrender its enriched uranium stockpile to the United States for destruction. He described Iran’s uranium as “nuclear dust” and said authorities should either send it to the US or destroy it under international supervision.
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump also linked a future Iran peace agreement to a wider expansion of the Abraham Accords across the Middle East.
US Destroys IRGC Boats And Missile Site
FOX News, citing a senior US official, reported that American forces spotted two Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The report also said Iranian missile systems targeted US warplanes operating in the area.
In response, the US military destroyed two boats belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and struck a missile site in Bandar Abbas. “These were defensive strikes,” the official told Fox News.
Sources also said the attacks did not mean the ceasefire between the United States and Iran had ended. Later, explosions were reported near Bandar Abbas, Sirik and Jask along the Strait of Hormuz.
A senior US official told FOX News that the military operation was “over for now.”
Trump Pushes Expansion Of Abraham Accords
Earlier, Trump said any deal to end the Iran conflict should require more countries to join the Abraham Accords. The agreements were originally created to normalise relations with Israel.
Trump named Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan as countries that should “immediately” join the framework. He argued that regional nations should support the agreements as part of a larger peace effort.
“After all the work done by the United States to try and pull this very complex puzzle together, it should be mandatory that all of these Countries, at a minimum, simultaneously, sign onto the Abraham Accords,” Trump wrote.
Some Republicans reportedly criticised the proposal and demanded a tougher approach towards Iran. Trump said he discussed the Abraham Accords plan with regional leaders during talks on Saturday.
He added that he would accept “one or two” countries refusing to join, but expected most nations to support the initiative.