The US military struck targets in southern Iran on the night of 26 May. A spokesman for the US Central Command (CENTCOM), Tim Hawkins, confirmed the report.
According to him, the strikes were carried out “in self-defence”, “to protect our service members from threats from Iranian forces”.
A command spokesman said the targets included missile launchers and boats attempting to plant mines. Central Command, he said, continues to protect U.S. troops by “exercising restraint in the face of the ongoing cease-fire.”
The strikes appear to have been concentrated in areas near the Strait of Hormuz. This is one of the most important strategic waterways blocked by Iran after US and Israeli strikes on the country began on 28 February. A ceasefire has been in effect in the region since early April.
Earlier, Iranian news agencies reported explosions near the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas. Later, the semi-official Mehr news agency said the situation was “fully under control.”
Official Tehran has not yet commented on the strikes.
The US strikes came amid discussions on the draft peace accords. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that an agreement could be reached soon. “I think there is an active exchange of views on the specific language in the initial document, so it will take a few days,” he said.
US President Donald Trump wrote on social network Truth Social the day before that negotiations with Iran were “going well”. According to him, “it will either be a great deal for everyone” or there will be “no deal at all” and the sides will return to strikes, but “in a bigger and stronger form than ever”. In another message, the US president said enriched uranium should be immediately handed over to the US for destruction, or better, jointly and in coordination with Iran, destroyed on Iranian territory, to be witnessed by the US Atomic Energy Commission.
Iran, meanwhile, rejected reports that it had allegedly agreed to stop enriching uranium. Iran’s foreign ministry said that while progress had been made on some issues, “it does not mean we are close” to a final agreement. Rubio told reporters that Trump was in no hurry – he was not going to make a “bad deal.”