The United States Central Command announced that American forces carried out fresh airstrikes in southern Iran, targeting drone-launching facilities and Iranian boats allegedly involved in laying naval mines near strategic waters. The strikes took place during the ongoing ceasefire period between the two sides.
According to CENTCOM, the attacks were conducted as defensive operations aimed at protecting American personnel and military assets in the region. The command stated that US forces would continue exercising restraint while taking necessary steps to ensure the safety of troops stationed in the Middle East.
Iranian media later reported that the situation in Bandar Abbas remained stable and under control following the strikes. Officials in Iran said there was no immediate cause for public concern despite growing tensions in the region after the latest military developments.
Following the attacks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open under all circumstances. He stated that the strategic waterway would continue operating “one way or another” because of its importance to global trade and oil supplies.
Rubio also revealed that negotiations regarding a possible agreement with Iran were still ongoing and could continue for several more days. He confirmed that talks involving Iranian representatives were taking place in Qatar, where discussions on key clauses of the proposed deal were underway.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump appeared to soften his position regarding Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile. In a statement shared on Truth Social, Trump said the material could either be transferred to the United States for disposal or destroyed at its current location or another mutually agreed site under international monitoring. He added that a nuclear oversight authority would supervise the entire process as part of efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and ending the ongoing conflict.
Also read: Iran Humiliating Trump in Talks, German Chancellor Says
