US Strikes Iranian Missile Sites as Peace Talks Press On
The BBC reported early Tuesday that the United States military had carried out new strikes on Iranian missile sites and vessels attempting to lay mines in southern Iran, even as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict pressed forward.
US Central Command framed the operation as a defensive measure. Spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins stated the strikes were intended to protect American forces from threats originating with Iranian forces, adding that the military remained committed to restraint under the current ceasefire.
Strikes Target Strategic Port Near the Strait of Hormuz
The attacks focused on an area close to Bandar Abbas, a southern port city that houses a major Iranian naval base. The base sits directly on the Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway through which a large share of global oil supply passes. Iranian state media reported that local officials in the city were already investigating after residents heard explosions. Tehran had not issued a formal response at the time of writing.
A Fragile Diplomatic Moment
The strikes landed at a delicate point in negotiations. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai acknowledged meaningful progress on a substantial portion of the issues under discussion. He was clear, however, that a final agreement was not imminent and that no official could responsibly claim otherwise.
President Donald Trump had signalled over the weekend that the two sides were nearing a deal. He later walked that back, telling his negotiating team not to rush. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had suggested a deal could materialise as soon as Monday.
The framework reportedly under discussion includes a 60-day ceasefire extension, a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a commitment to further talks on Iran’s nuclear programme.
Background: How the Conflict Began
The US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on 28 February, triggering a wider regional conflict. Iran retaliated by attacking Israel and Gulf states aligned with Washington, and effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz. The closure drove oil prices sharply higher across global markets. A ceasefire took hold on 8 April, though Iran has maintained controls on Gulf shipping while the US Navy has sustained a port blockade.
Complicating talks further, CBS News reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, wounded in an Israeli strike that also killed his predecessor, is sheltering at an undisclosed location. That has hampered direct communication with Iran’s envoys and slowed the pace of any potential agreement.
Iran’s top negotiator and foreign minister were in Doha on Monday for discussions with Qatar’s prime minister, Reuters reported, suggesting back-channel momentum has not entirely stalled.
Read Next: What the Strait of Hormuz Closure Means for Global Oil Markets
