Washington: The US military has carried out “self-defence strikes” targeting Iranian missile launch sites and boats near the Strait of Hormuz during an ongoing ceasefire between the two countries, CNN reported, citing US Central Command (CENTCOM).
According to CENTCOM spokesman Timothy Hawkins, US forces conducted the strikes in southern Iran to protect American troops from what they described as threats posed by Iranian forces.
“U.S. forces conducted self-defence strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” Hawkins said in a statement to CNN. He added that the targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to deploy mines.
He further stated, “US Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire.”
The report noted that US and Iranian forces have previously exchanged fire during the ceasefire period. In early May, US forces struck Iranian military facilities allegedly involved in missile, drone, and small boat attacks on American warships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest developments come shortly after progress in ceasefire negotiations, with US President Donald Trump stating that Iran’s enriched uranium would either be handed over to the United States for destruction or eliminated at an agreed location.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “The enriched uranium 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.”
His remarks align with a New York Times report suggesting that Iran has agreed in principle to surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium as part of a US-led framework aimed at de-escalating regional tensions.
The development addresses one of the key sticking points in negotiations between Washington and Tehran, particularly disagreements over Iran’s nuclear programme and sanctions relief, which have previously slowed progress toward a broader agreement, CNN reported.
Earlier, Trump had said any future deal with Iran would be either a “great and meaningful” agreement or the United States would walk away from negotiations altogether.
Iran, however, has expressed caution over the talks. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said that while progress has been made on several issues, a final agreement is not imminent.
“We have reached conclusions on a large portion of the discussion topics, but to say that this means the signing of an imminent agreement is something no one can claim,” Baqaei said, adding that frequent changes in the US position continue to complicate negotiations.