The strikes

United States forces conducted what CENTCOM described as "self-defense strikes" in southern Iran on Monday, 25 May 2026. The targets included missile launch sites and Iranian vessels attempting to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to CENTCOM spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins. The strikes occurred near Bandar Abbas, a port city directly across from Hormuz Island and the strategic waterway at the center of the conflict that began in late February.

“US forces conducted self-defense strikes today in southern Iran to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces. Targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to place mines.”

Iranian semi-official media reported multiple loud explosions heard in Bandar Abbas around midnight local time. State television later said the situation had returned to normal and an investigation was underway. The strikes came hours after Iranian negotiators arrived in Qatar for talks.

A fragile truce

A ceasefire between the United States and Iran has been in effect since 8 April 2026, following several weeks of war that killed thousands and shook the global economy. The truce has been extended without a deadline by President Donald Trump. CENTCOM emphasized it continues to defend its forces "while exercising restraint during the ongoing ceasefire" — a formulation that American media, including the Washington Post and NPR, noted contains an inherent contradiction.

“CENTCOM continues to defend our forces while exercising restraint during the ongoing ceasefire.”

This is not the first incident since the truce began. Previous attacks have raised questions about whether such actions could derail the negotiations, yet both sides have so far maintained the ceasefire framework.

The Hormuz choke point

The Strait of Hormuz remains the epicenter of the crisis. Approximately 20% of the world's oil and 20% of globally traded liquefied natural gas pass through this narrow waterway. Iran closed the strait on 28 February 2026 in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, triggering an energy crisis that has severely disrupted the global economy.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Tuesday that the strait would reopen "one way or another." The potential deal under negotiation reportedly includes reopening the strait and lifting sanctions on Iran, while leaving the nuclear dossier for a later phase — an approach that has drawn criticism from several Republican senators allied with Trump.

Diplomatic maneuvering

Negotiations have intensified in recent days. On Sunday, Pakistani mediators traveled to China while the main Iranian negotiators were received in Qatar. The small emirate plays an increasingly important role in the discussions and holds part of the billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets abroad — financial resources Tehran demands to conclude an agreement.

“The discussions mainly revolve around the precise wording of the initial text, so it will take a few days.”

Rubio, speaking during an official visit to India, maintained that a compromise remains possible "in the coming days," though he walked back weekend suggestions of an imminent conclusion. Trump himself added new demands, calling on Arab countries in the region — primarily Qatar and Saudi Arabia — to join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel.

“These countries should be obligated to sign.”

Memorial Day context

The strikes unfolded on Memorial Day, adding emotional weight to the military action. Trump visited Arlington National Cemetery to honor the 13 American service members killed in Operation Epic Fury — the campaign that launched the current conflict on 28 February 2026. On his Truth Social platform, Trump insisted that Iran "will never have a nuclear weapon" and warned that it would be "only a great deal or no deal — back to the battlefield and bombing, bigger and stronger than before."

Despite the new hostilities, both Washington and Tehran signaled the ceasefire remains in place. No announcement was made about changes to the truce, and Rubio continued to speak of a possible agreement, suggesting the strikes may represent a pressure tactic rather than a genuine return to full-scale war.