The United States has carried out military strikes on southern Iran, targeting missile launch sites and vessels attempting to lay mines, according to US Central Command (Centcom). The action tests the seven-week-old ceasefire between the two nations, even as Iranian negotiators arrived in Qatar on Monday for fresh talks aimed at resolving key disputes.
Centcom spokesman Navy Captain Tim Hawkins described the strikes as "defensive" and stressed they did not signal an end to the ceasefire. "Centcom continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire," he said on Tuesday.
Casualties and Local Reactions
In Iran, the news website Tabnak, which is believed to be close to former Revolutionary Guard chief Mohsen Rezaei, reported that four Guard troops were killed in American strikes on boats. Iranian state television also reported explosions near Bandar Abbas, a strategic city on the Strait of Hormuz that hosts a military port and a dual-use airport. The Iranian state news agency Mehr later stated that the situation was "completely under control" and that there was no reason for residents to worry.
Talks in Qatar Focus on Frozen Assets
The strikes coincided with a diplomatic mission led by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran's parliament, who travelled to Qatar with a delegation. Local media confirmed that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati were also part of the group. Hemmati's presence has fuelled speculation that the discussions will centre on the release of frozen Iranian assets. The proposed deal reportedly involves the US unfreezing some Iranian assets held in banks outside Iran, including in Qatar.
President Donald Trump has faced criticism from loyalists within his party over reports that billions of dollars in frozen assets could be made available to Tehran. Senior Republicans have expressed concern that the reported details of the peace deal resemble the nuclear agreement negotiated by the Obama administration in 2015, which Trump withdrew from.
Strait of Hormuz and Nuclear Programme
The memorandum of understanding currently being negotiated would reportedly see Iran restore commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz but would not include negotiations over nuclear issues. Talks on Iran's nuclear programme would take place within 30 to 60 days after any initial agreement. Trump has stated that his primary objective is to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon using its highly enriched uranium stockpile. He faces mounting pressure for the initial deal to include a commitment from Iran to dispose of its stockpile.
On Monday, Trump appeared to offer a concession, announcing on social media that enriched uranium held in Iran could be "destroyed" inside the country under the supervision of an international nuclear agency. This issue has been a major sticking point in previous negotiations, with Iran previously refusing to transfer its stockpile to the US or Russia but expressing willingness to dilute its purity.
Experts have suggested that Trump's announcement could represent a significant compromise from the US president, as negotiations appeared to slow after a flurry of diplomatic activity over the weekend.
Urgency Over Strait of Hormuz
Reopening the Strait of Hormuz has become a pressing matter for the Trump administration, which is months away from midterm elections and facing voter anger over rising costs. On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that despite the latest US strikes, a deal was still possible, adding that the strait would open "one way or another."
"There were some talks going on in Qatar today, so 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," Rubio told reporters in Jaipur, India, during an official visit.
Iran has indicated that future management of the strait—through which about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas usually flows—will be a matter for Oman and Iran to agree on, and that "fees for navigational services" could be imposed.
Trump's Warning and Regional Dynamics
In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump said talks with Iran were going "nicely" but warned of fresh attacks if they failed. "It will only be a Great Deal for all, or no Deal at all," he wrote.
Iran has insisted that a ceasefire in Lebanon must be included in the memorandum of understanding that would lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would intensify strikes against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. Israel and Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire in mid-April, but Israel has continued airstrikes it describes as acts of self-defence against Hezbollah, which was not party to the truce.
