By Emmanuel Bobby
The United States military carried out a fresh wave of strikes in southern Iran near the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz on Monday, describing the operation as an act of self-defense even as Washington and Tehran remained engaged in delicate negotiations aimed at bringing an end to months of conflict. The latest military action underscored the fragility of the temporary ceasefire between the two countries and raised new concerns about whether diplomatic efforts can survive renewed violence.
Iran’s powerful military wing, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), responded with a stern warning on Tuesday, vowing to retaliate against what it described as any breach of the ceasefire by American forces. The statement signaled growing tensions despite ongoing diplomatic engagement and heightened fears that the conflict could once again spiral into broader confrontation.
According to U.S. Central Command spokesman Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, the strikes targeted what officials described as immediate threats to American personnel and operations in the region. Hawkins said the military action involved missile launch sites and Iranian naval vessels allegedly attempting to deploy sea mines in waters near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime trade corridors.
“These were self-defense strikes,” Hawkins said, adding that American forces remain focused on protecting troops and regional stability while exercising caution during the temporary truce.
A U.S. defense official confirmed that the operation took place in and around Bandar Abbas, a major port city in southern Iran situated close to the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway remains essential to global energy markets, with a large percentage of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passing through the narrow passage.
Despite the strikes, there was no official indication that the temporary ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, which took effect on April 8, had formally collapsed. U.S. officials maintained that military actions remain limited and defensive in nature.
“U.S. Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” Hawkins said, emphasizing that the military posture has not shifted toward renewed large-scale combat.
Iranian state-linked media reported hearing explosions in Bandar Abbas and nearby coastal areas bordering the Strait of Hormuz shortly after the strikes. Witness accounts circulating through local outlets described flashes and loud detonations near military installations, though Iranian authorities did not immediately provide detailed casualty or damage assessments.
The Revolutionary Guard quickly accused the United States of violating Iranian airspace in the Persian Gulf region. In a statement published through the semi-official Fars news agency, the IRGC claimed Iranian forces had shot down an American MQ-9 drone and engaged another U.S. drone along with an F-35 fighter jet, allegedly forcing them to retreat from Iranian territory.
American defense officials did not immediately respond to the claims, leaving uncertainty over the accuracy of Iran’s assertions.
“The IRGC warns against any violation of the ceasefire by the invading American army and considers its right to reciprocal response both legitimate and certain,” the Guard said, suggesting Tehran views military retaliation as both justified and inevitable if similar incidents continue.
Although the latest operation marks another instance of U.S. military activity during the ceasefire period, its timing drew particular attention because it coincided with intensified diplomatic negotiations intended to formally end the war. The conflict began on Feb. 28 following coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes targeting Iranian military and nuclear-linked infrastructure, setting off months of military escalation across the region.
Earlier Monday, Iranian officials pushed back against speculation that a diplomatic breakthrough was imminent after President Donald Trump publicly suggested that an agreement could soon materialize before later tempering expectations.
Speaking to reporters while traveling to India, Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that negotiations remained unresolved and indicated substantial work still lay ahead.
“It’s going to take a couple days to settle on,” Rubio said, adding that “it’s either going to be a good deal or there isn’t going to be one,” signaling Washington’s insistence on strict conditions.
One of the most contentious sticking points in negotiations continues to be Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. President Donald Trump renewed demands Monday that Iran surrender or destroy nuclear material inside the country, arguing the issue remains central to any long-term agreement.
In a lengthy social media statement, Trump said Iran’s 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,” under international observation.
A senior White House official later clarified that Trump’s remarks did not signal a new demand but instead reflected an already established U.S. negotiating position that had previously been communicated to Iranian officials.
Iran has repeatedly rejected accusations that it seeks to develop a nuclear weapon, insisting its nuclear program is peaceful and protected under its interpretation of international law. Tehran continues to argue that it has a sovereign right to pursue civilian nuclear development and views demands to dismantle enrichment capabilities as unacceptable interference.
The broader regional crisis has intensified pressure on global trade and energy markets. Iran effectively shut down maritime access through the Strait of Hormuz while the U.S. military tightened restrictions around Iranian ports, significantly slowing shipping activity and disrupting global supplies of oil, food, and commercial goods.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts accelerated in the Gulf, with Iranian negotiators meeting in Qatar on Monday as regional mediators worked to secure a framework capable of ending the nearly three-month conflict and reopening trade routes.
Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed leadership following the reported killing of his father during earlier strikes, delivered a strongly worded message Tuesday warning that American military forces would no longer operate safely in the Middle East.
“The ticker of time will not go back and nations and countries of the region will no longer be shields of American bases,” Khamenei said in a social media post, portraying Iran as emerging stronger despite wartime losses.
In separate remarks tied to the annual pilgrimage of the Hajj, Khamenei claimed Iran had successfully resisted military pressure and inflicted significant setbacks on American objectives during the war. He said Iran had delivered “a harsh slap” to the United States and prevented efforts to force Tehran into submission, reinforcing the government’s narrative of resilience amid mounting regional instability.
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