The United States carried out new military strikes in southern Iran on Monday, targeting missile installations and Iranian vessels allegedly attempting to deploy naval mines near the Strait of Hormuz, according to the U.S. military. The operation marked another escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran despite ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at ending months of conflict.
U.S. Central Command said the strikes were conducted in self defense and were intended to protect American forces operating in the region. Military officials said the targets included missile sites and small boats near Bandar Abbas, a strategic Iranian port city that hosts a major naval base overlooking one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.
Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for Central Command, said U.S. forces were continuing to defend themselves while exercising restraint during the current ceasefire period. The military did not disclose how many targets were hit or whether there were casualties.
Iranian state media reported explosions in the Bandar Abbas area earlier in the day and said local authorities had opened an investigation. Iranian officials have not publicly commented on the American strikes or indicated whether Tehran intends to respond militarily.
The latest operation comes at a delicate moment in negotiations between the two countries. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai acknowledged that talks with the United States had produced progress on several major issues but cautioned that a final agreement was still far from complete.
Diplomatic discussions have intensified in recent days following signals from both governments that they are seeking a path toward de escalation. President Donald Trump suggested over the weekend that negotiators were nearing a deal, though he later said his administration would not rush the process. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also expressed optimism that a breakthrough could emerge soon.
Iran, however, has tempered expectations. Officials in Tehran said that while large portions of the negotiations had been resolved, no side could yet claim that a formal agreement was imminent. Reuters reported that Iran’s foreign minister and senior negotiators traveled to Doha for discussions with Qatari officials involved in mediation efforts.
A ceasefire between U.S. and Iranian forces has technically been in place since April 8, though the region has remained tense. Iran has continued to exert pressure over Gulf shipping routes, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. Navy has expanded patrols and maritime enforcement operations near Iranian ports.
