The United States has carried out fresh military strikes on southern Iran, targeting missile installations and boats allegedly attempting to deploy naval mines near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
According to the United States Central Command, the operation was conducted in self-defence to protect American troops from threats posed by Iranian forces during the ongoing ceasefire period.
Central Command spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins said the US military remained committed to defending its personnel while exercising restraint amid efforts to sustain the ceasefire between the two countries.
The strikes reportedly targeted areas near Bandar Abbas, home to a major Iranian naval base located along the Strait of Hormuz — a critical global shipping route for oil and gas supplies.
Iran had not officially responded to the latest strikes at the time of reporting. However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqai stated earlier that although negotiations to end the conflict had made progress, a final agreement was not yet close.
Meanwhile, Marco Rubio said diplomatic talks between Iran and the US were still ongoing and expressed optimism that a deal could eventually be reached. He referenced upcoming discussions involving Iran’s lead negotiator, the Iranian foreign minister, and Qatar’s prime minister.
Rubio reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open, describing any disruption to international shipping in the area as unlawful and unacceptable.
The latest developments come amid broader negotiations reportedly centred on extending the ceasefire, reopening Gulf shipping lanes, and continuing talks over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Reports indicate that discussions may later address contentious issues including sanctions relief, frozen Iranian assets, and US demands for Iran to limit its nuclear activities.
US media outlets also reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is believed to be operating from an undisclosed location after reportedly being injured during earlier Israeli strikes, complicating diplomatic communications.
The conflict began after coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year, triggering retaliatory attacks by Iran on Israel and US-aligned Gulf states. Iran subsequently tightened controls around the Strait of Hormuz, causing sharp increases in global oil prices and renewed concerns over global energy security.
Source: citinews
