The United States has launched strikes on southern Iran, targeting missile launch sites and boats attempting to lay mines, according to US Central Command. The action, described as defensive, occurred during a seven-week ceasefire that both sides acknowledge remains fragile. Navy Captain Tim Hawkins stressed that the strikes did not signal an end to the truce, stating that Centcom continues to defend its forces while exercising restraint.
Iranian news website Tabnak reported four members of the Revolutionary Guard killed in the strikes on boats. State television also reported explosions near Bandar Abbas, a strategic city on the Strait of Hormuz housing a military port and dual-use airport. The Iranian state news agency Mehr later said the situation was under control and urged residents not to worry.
The strikes coincided with a new round of talks in Qatar, where a delegation led by Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati, is negotiating. Hemmati's presence suggests discussions may focus on unfreezing Iranian assets held abroad, including in Qatar. The US has reportedly considered releasing billions in frozen assets as part of a potential deal, drawing criticism from Republican loyalists who view it as reminiscent of the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Under the proposed memorandum of understanding, Iran would restore commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, but nuclear issues would be deferred for 30 to 60 days. President Donald Trump has emphasised preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and recently suggested that Iran's enriched uranium could be destroyed domestically under international supervision, a possible concession. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed cautious optimism, stating the strait would reopen 'one way or another'.
