WASHINGTON – The U.S. military carried out what it described as “self-defense strikes” in southern Iran tonight, targeting Iranian boats allegedly attempting to lay mines and missile launch sites as a fragile ceasefire between the two nations remains in effect.
According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes were conducted to protect American forces from immediate threats.
Multiple explosions were reported near Bandar Abbas, Sirik and Jask, strategic coastal areas along the Strait of Hormuz.
The military action comes at a highly sensitive moment in the nearly three-month-old war, as senior Iranian negotiators have arrived in Doha, Qatar, to finalize a major peace agreement.
President Donald Trump announced that a memorandum of understanding is “largely negotiated,” although significant details remain under debate.
Under the emerging draft proposal, the current ceasefire would be extended for 60 days across all fronts, including Lebanon.
Iran has also agreed in principle to dispose of its highly enriched uranium stockpile, though the method of disposal and future limits on uranium enrichment remain unresolved.
In exchange for full compliance, the United States would ease restrictions on Iranian ports and unfreeze billions of dollars in Iranian assets.
Strait of Hormuz Remains Central to Negotiations
The blockaded Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most significant points of contention in the negotiations and a focal point of the broader global economic crisis.
Under the draft agreement, Iran would immediately begin removing naval mines and lifting transit restrictions in an effort to restore pre-war shipping conditions within 30 days.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) continues to classify the threat level in the strait as “critical,” reporting that commercial shipping remains significantly reduced and continues to face satellite interference.
Even if a final agreement is signed this week, maritime experts report that a backlog of roughly 1,500 stranded oil tankers and cargo vessels could take months to safely clear as ships navigate past remaining minefields.
The latest U.S. strikes underscore the volatility of the situation, with American and Iranian officials attempting to negotiate a lasting resolution while military threats remain active along one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
