Even as fragile peace negotiations continue between Washington and Tehran, U.S. forces launched targeted strikes Monday against Iranian missile sites and naval units attempting to deploy mines in southern Iran, according to U.S. Central Command.
The military action came during an already tense ceasefire period that began April 8, underscoring just how volatile the situation remains despite ongoing diplomatic talks aimed at ending the war.
According to Central Command spokesman Tim Hawkins, American forces carried out what were described as “self-defense strikes” against Iranian threats targeting U.S. personnel in the region.
“U.S. forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” Hawkins stated.
The Pentagon did not release extensive operational details but confirmed the targets included missile launch sites and boats attempting to place naval mines — a serious escalation involving the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping lanes.
The strikes immediately raised concerns about the stability of the ongoing ceasefire and the broader negotiations being pushed by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Trump has repeatedly insisted that any final agreement with Iran must fully eliminate the nuclear threat while protecting American strategic interests throughout the Middle East.
In a social media statement Monday, Trump made clear that Iran’s enriched uranium must either be handed over to the United States for destruction or destroyed under international supervision.
“The Enriched Uranium (Nuclear Dust!) will either be immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed,” Trump wrote, while also suggesting destruction could occur inside Iran under monitored conditions.
The president did not clarify whether the uranium demand has already been formally included in the emerging framework agreement currently under negotiation.
Meanwhile, Trump also expanded his regional vision for peace by calling on Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Bahrain, and Jordan to formally join the Abraham Accords as part of a broader Middle East normalization effort tied to any Iran settlement.
The Abraham Accords, originally brokered during Trump’s first term, reshaped diplomacy in the region by establishing formal relations between Israel and several Arab nations. Trump now appears determined to use the current negotiations to expand those agreements even further.
According to Trump, he personally spoke with leaders from several regional nations over the weekend regarding efforts to end the conflict.
While Bahrain and the UAE have already signed the accords, other major regional players — particularly Saudi Arabia and Qatar — remain reluctant to normalize relations with Israel unless progress is made toward a Palestinian state.
At the same time, tensions are rising on another front of the conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that he ordered intensified military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, accusing the Iranian-backed terror group of continuing drone attacks against Israeli forces.
