The United States carried out what officials described as “self-defense strikes” against Iranian military assets in southern Iran on Monday after American forces came under threat near the Strait of Hormuz, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM).
“US forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” Capt. Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson, said. “Targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines. US Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” Hawkins said.
According to Fox News, American forces identified two Iranian vessels allegedly laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important shipping lanes. US forces also responded after an Iranian missile site reportedly targeted American warplanes operating in the region.
The military strikes reportedly destroyed both Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) boats and a surface-to-air missile (SAM) installation in Bandar Abbas. “These were defensive strikes,” an official told the outlet, emphasizing that the operation was not intended to signal the collapse of ongoing ceasefire efforts with Tehran. Two additional sources familiar with the matter also said the ceasefire remains intact for now.
The strikes followed reports of explosions across several locations near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. Witnesses reported blasts in Bandar Abbas, as well as near the coastal areas of Sirik and Jask.
Despite the military escalation, the Trump administration is continuing to publicly push for a diplomatic resolution with Iran over both maritime security and Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking Monday from Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi, India, said negotiations were still underway and cautioned against reading too much into delays in the talks. “We’re still a work in progress,” Rubio said. “As I said, we thought we might have some news last night, maybe today. I wouldn’t read too much into it. It takes a little while to get back.”
Rubio said the administration believes it has presented a strong framework for an agreement focused in part on securing access through the Strait of Hormuz. “We have what I think is a pretty solid thing on the table in terms of their ability to open up the straits, get the straits opened,” he said.
Rubio stressed that negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program remain on a limited timetable. “There’s a very real, significant time limit on negotiations on the nuclear matter, and hopefully we can pull it off. It has a lot of support in the Gulf. There’s a lot of support globally,” he added.
Rubio reiterated that the administration would continue prioritizing diplomacy before considering military alternatives. “We’re going to give diplomacy every chance to succeed before we explore the alternatives. We’d prefer to have a good agreement.”
President Donald Trump also weighed in Monday, outlining what he said would happen to Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile under a potential agreement with Tehran. “The Enriched Uranium (Nuclear Dust!) will either be immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed or, preferably, in conjunction and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place or, at another acceptable location, with the Atomic Energy Commission, or its equivalent, being witness to this process and event,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“US forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” Capt. Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson, said. “Targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines. US Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” Hawkins said.
According to Fox News, American forces identified two Iranian vessels allegedly laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important shipping lanes. US forces also responded after an Iranian missile site reportedly targeted American warplanes operating in the region.
The military strikes reportedly destroyed both Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) boats and a surface-to-air missile (SAM) installation in Bandar Abbas. “These were defensive strikes,” an official told the outlet, emphasizing that the operation was not intended to signal the collapse of ongoing ceasefire efforts with Tehran. Two additional sources familiar with the matter also said the ceasefire remains intact for now.
The strikes followed reports of explosions across several locations near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. Witnesses reported blasts in Bandar Abbas, as well as near the coastal areas of Sirik and Jask.
Despite the military escalation, the Trump administration is continuing to publicly push for a diplomatic resolution with Iran over both maritime security and Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking Monday from Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi, India, said negotiations were still underway and cautioned against reading too much into delays in the talks. “We’re still a work in progress,” Rubio said. “As I said, we thought we might have some news last night, maybe today. I wouldn’t read too much into it. It takes a little while to get back.”
Rubio said the administration believes it has presented a strong framework for an agreement focused in part on securing access through the Strait of Hormuz. “We have what I think is a pretty solid thing on the table in terms of their ability to open up the straits, get the straits opened,” he said.
Rubio stressed that negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program remain on a limited timetable. “There’s a very real, significant time limit on negotiations on the nuclear matter, and hopefully we can pull it off. It has a lot of support in the Gulf. There’s a lot of support globally,” he added.
Rubio reiterated that the administration would continue prioritizing diplomacy before considering military alternatives. “We’re going to give diplomacy every chance to succeed before we explore the alternatives. We’d prefer to have a good agreement.”
President Donald Trump also weighed in Monday, outlining what he said would happen to Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile under a potential agreement with Tehran. “The Enriched Uranium (Nuclear Dust!) will either be immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed or, preferably, in conjunction and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place or, at another acceptable location, with the Atomic Energy Commission, or its equivalent, being witness to this process and event,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
