The United States said it launched fresh strikes on southern Iran, targeting missile sites and boats allegedly attempting to place mines.
US Central Command said the attacks were carried out in “self-defense” and aimed “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces”.
Central Command spokesperson Capt Tim Hawkins said the US military “continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire” between both countries.
Iran had not responded to the latest strikes as of Tuesday. However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai earlier said that although some progress had been made in negotiations to end the conflict, a deal “is not imminent”.
The strikes have raised uncertainty over efforts to secure a possible peace agreement between Washington and Tehran.
Following the attacks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said diplomacy remained possible and pointed to Tuesday’s talks involving Iran’s top negotiator, foreign minister and Qatar’s prime minister.
“We’ll see if we can make progress. I think it’s a lot of talking back and forth going on about specific language in the initial document, so it’ll take a few days,” Rubio told reporters during an official visit to India.
He added that President Donald Trump had “expressed his desire to make it”.
“He’s either going to make a good deal or no deal,” Rubio said.
Asked later about the latest strikes, Rubio said: “The straits have to be open. They’re going to be open one way or the other, so they need to be open. What’s happening there is unlawful, it’s illegal, it’s unsustainable for the world, it’s unacceptable.”
Capt Hawkins said the operation targeted an area near Bandar Abbas, a southern port city hosting an Iranian naval base on the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media earlier reported explosions in the city.
The latest developments follow tensions in May when Iranian and US naval destroyers clashed in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Trump to insist a ceasefire remained active.
At the weekend, Trump suggested both sides were nearing an agreement but later instructed negotiators “not to rush into” a deal. Rubio had also said an agreement could possibly be reached on Monday.
Baqai, however, pushed back against claims of an imminent breakthrough.
“It is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion… But to say that this means the signing of an agreement is imminent – no-one can make such a claim.”
Reports said discussions centred on a proposed 60-day ceasefire extension, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and further negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme.
CBS News reported that US intelligence believes Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, injured in an Israeli strike that killed his father and predecessor at the start of the war, is hiding in an undisclosed location, complicating communications with negotiators.
US media also reported that key issues would likely be discussed later, including sanctions relief, the release of frozen Iranian funds and Washington’s demands for Tehran to curb its nuclear activities.
At the start of the war, Iran was believed to possess about 440kg of uranium enriched up to 60% purity, close to weapons-grade level.
On Monday night, Trump said the enriched uranium would either be “immediately” handed over to the US or “preferably, in conjunction and co-ordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place”.
The US and Iran have observed a ceasefire since 8 April, although tensions have persisted around Gulf shipping routes and Iranian ports.
The conflict began after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on 28 February. Tehran responded with attacks on Israel and Gulf states allied with Washington, while also moving to shut the Strait of Hormuz, sending global oil prices sharply higher.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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