US Carries Out Strikes in Southern Iran Amid Ongoing Ceasefire and Nuclear Talks

The US has carried out new strikes on missile sites and boats in southern Iran, saying it was acting in self-defense to protect its forces despite an ongoing ceasefire. The attacks were reported near Bandar Abbas by the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes come as US and Iranian officials continue talks on extending the ceasefire and a possible nuclear deal, although Iran says an agreement is not yet close.

The United States has carried out fresh military strikes in southern Iran, targeting missile sites and boats allegedly attempting to deploy naval mines, despite an ongoing ceasefire between the two countries. The operation highlights the fragile nature of the truce and raises new questions about the prospects for a lasting peace agreement.
In a statement, the US Central Command said the strikes were conducted in “self-defense” and were intended to protect American troops from threats posed by Iranian forces. The military maintained that the action was necessary to safeguard personnel and ensure freedom of navigation in the region.
Central Command spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins said US forces remain committed to defending themselves while exercising restraint under the current ceasefire arrangement.
“The US military continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” Hawkins said.
Iran has not yet issued an official response to the latest attacks. However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai said earlier that negotiations aimed at ending the conflict had made progress, although a final agreement was still some distance away.
“It is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion,” Baqai said. “But to say that this means the signing of an agreement is imminent — no-one can make such a claim.”
The latest strikes come at a sensitive moment, with diplomatic efforts continuing behind the scenes to transform the ceasefire into a broader settlement. It remains uncertain whether the military action will complicate or delay those negotiations.
Following the operation, Marco Rubio insisted that a deal between Washington and Tehran was still achievable. He pointed to talks held on Tuesday involving Iran’s chief negotiator, the Iranian foreign minister and the prime minister of Qatar as evidence that diplomacy remains active.
Speaking during an official visit to India, Rubio said discussions were focused on the wording of an initial framework document and could take several more days.
“We’ll see if we can make progress. I think it’s a lot of talking back and forth going on about specific language in the initial document, so it’ll take a few days,” he said.
Rubio added that Donald Trump remained committed to securing an agreement but would not accept a deal that failed to meet American objectives.
“He’s either going to make a good deal or no deal,” Rubio stated.
Addressing the military operation later, Rubio stressed the importance of keeping the strategic Strait of Hormuz open to international shipping.
“The straits have to be open. They’re going to be open one way or the other, so they need to be open. What’s happening there is unlawful, it’s illegal, it’s unsustainable for the world, it’s unacceptable,” he said.
According to Hawkins, the strikes targeted an area near Bandar Abbas, a major southern port city that hosts an important Iranian naval base overlooking the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media reported that local authorities were investigating explosions heard in the area shortly before the US confirmed the operation.
Tensions in the region have remained high despite the ceasefire. Earlier in May, a confrontation between Iranian and American naval destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz led both sides to accuse each other of provocation. Following the incident, Trump insisted that the ceasefire remained intact.
Over the weekend, Trump suggested that negotiators were nearing an agreement but later said he had instructed officials not to rush the process. Rubio had also expressed optimism that a breakthrough could be achieved quickly.
Reports indicate that negotiators are discussing a memorandum of understanding that would include a 60-day extension of the ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to normal maritime traffic and a framework for further talks regarding Iran’s nuclear programme.
According to reports from CBS News, US intelligence agencies believe Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is operating from an undisclosed location after reportedly being injured during an Israeli strike at the start of the conflict that killed his father and predecessor. Intelligence officials believe difficulties communicating with him may be slowing progress in the negotiations.
US media reports suggest that the current discussions are unlikely to produce an immediate comprehensive settlement. More contentious issues are expected to be addressed in future rounds of talks, including the lifting of sanctions on Iran, the release of frozen Iranian assets and American demands that Tehran significantly limit its nuclear activities.
At the beginning of the conflict, Iran was believed to possess approximately 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 per cent purity. Experts note that uranium at this level can be further enriched relatively quickly to the 90 per cent threshold generally considered weapons-grade material.
On Monday night, Trump stated that the enriched uranium should either be handed over to the United States immediately or, preferably, destroyed inside Iran under a jointly supervised arrangement.
The ceasefire between American and Iranian forces has largely held since April 8. During that period, Iran has maintained restrictions on some shipping movements through the Strait of Hormuz, while the US Navy has continued operations aimed at limiting Iranian maritime activities.
The conflict began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched extensive strikes against Iranian targets. Iran responded with attacks against Israel and US-aligned Gulf states and moved to effectively close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy supplies. The disruption sent oil prices sharply higher and increased fears of a wider regional war.
Although diplomatic channels remain open and both sides continue to engage through intermediaries, the latest US strikes demonstrate the challenges facing negotiators as they attempt to convert a fragile ceasefire into a lasting peace agreement.