The United States military has carried out fresh strikes on southern Iran, targeting Iranian missile sites and boats allegedly attempting to deploy naval mines, according to the BBC.
The US Central Command said the strikes were conducted in “self-defense” and aimed at protecting American troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.
Central Command spokesperson Capt Tim Hawkins said the US military “continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” reports BBC.
According to reports, the strikes targeted areas near Bandar Abbas, a key southern Iranian port city that hosts an Iranian naval base along the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media earlier reported explosions in the region, with local authorities investigating the incident.
Iran has not yet officially responded to the latest US action. The strikes come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran, with both sides indicating some progress in negotiations while cautioning that a final agreement remains distant.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai said significant progress had been achieved in talks with the US, but stressed that “the signing of an agreement is not imminent.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier suggested that a deal could possibly be reached soon.
Meanwhile, Iran’s top negotiator and foreign minister were reportedly in Doha for discussions with Qatar’s prime minister regarding a potential agreement with the US.
The US and Iranian forces have observed a ceasefire since April 8, following months of heightened tensions after the US and Israel launched large-scale strikes on Iran in February. Iran retaliated by attacking Israel and Gulf states allied with the US, while also tightening controls over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a surge in global oil prices
