The US military launched new strikes on targets in southern Iran on Monday, hitting missile sites and boats near the port city of Bandar Abbas, according to a statement from US Central Command. Officials described the action as taken in self-defense to protect American troops from threats posed by Iranian forces. The strikes come amid ongoing talks aimed at extending a ceasefire between the two countries.
Central Command spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins said the US military "continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire." The targets included an area near Bandar Abbas, home to an Iranian naval base on the Strait of Hormuz, the New York Times reported. Iranian state media said local officials were investigating after explosions were heard in the area.
Iran has not yet responded directly to the latest strikes. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai said earlier that while some progress had been made in talks to end the war, a deal "is not imminent." Baqai added that negotiators had reached conclusions on a large portion of the issues under discussion but cautioned against claims that an agreement was close to being signed.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters during a visit to India that a deal remained possible despite the strikes. "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," Rubio said. He noted that President Donald Trump had "expressed his desire to make it" and added that Trump was prepared for either "a good deal or no deal."
Rubio also stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. "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 when asked about the strikes.
The memorandum of understanding under discussion reportedly includes a 60-day ceasefire extension, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and plans for further negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. According to US media reports, the current talks will not immediately produce a final settlement, with contentious issues such as sanctions relief and Iran's nuclear ambitions expected to be addressed later.
US and Iranian forces have observed a ceasefire since April 8. Iran has maintained controls on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz while the US Navy has sought to blockade Iranian ports. At the start of the conflict, Iran was believed to hold about 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity.
On Monday night, Trump said the enriched uranium would either be "immediately" turned over to the US or "preferably, in conjunction and co-ordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place." CBS News reported that US intelligence believes Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who was injured in an Israeli strike that killed his father, is in an undisclosed location, complicating communications with negotiators.
The broader conflict began when the US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on February 28. Iran responded by attacking Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf and closing the Strait of Hormuz, which sent oil prices higher worldwide. Rubio pointed to Tuesday talks between Iran's top negotiator, foreign minister, and Qatar's prime minister as a sign that dialogue continues.
At the weekend, Trump had suggested the sides were close to a deal but later instructed negotiators "not to rush into" one. Rubio had previously indicated an agreement could possibly be reached on Monday. Baqai's comments appeared to temper expectations that a breakthrough was near.
Officials said the strikes were designed to address threats from Iranian missile launch sites and boats attempting to place mines. The US military emphasized that the actions were limited and taken with restraint during the ceasefire period.
Discussions are expected to continue over the coming days, with both sides exchanging proposals on the language of an initial document. Rubio said he remained hopeful that progress could be made on reopening shipping lanes and extending the current truce.