The US military announced Monday that it had struck missile launch sites in southern Iran and vessels suspected of laying mines, even as Washington and Tehran reported progress in talks aimed at securing a lasting agreement to end the Middle East war.
Following weeks of apparent deadlock and traded threats, both governments reported breakthroughs in recent days. Over a weekend spent at the White House, Donald Trump framed a resolution as imminent, while US and Iranian media outlets carried various details regarding the draft text under negotiation.
However, hopes for a swift peace faded yesterday. The setback began with remarks from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who vowed to “intensify” military operations in Lebanon to “crush” the Iran-backed Shiite movement Hezbollah. It was compounded shortly after by news of fresh US military strikes against Iranian forces.
US conducts “self-defense strikes” in southern Iran
“US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted self-defense strikes today [Monday] in southern Iran to protect our troops from ongoing threats posed by Iranian forces,” the Pentagon’s Middle East command stated. “Targets included missile launch sites and vessels attempting to lay mines.”
Iranian media reported that powerful explosions were heard in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas around midnight. State television later reported that calm had been restored and that an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the blasts.
The US military maintained that it had exercised “restraint” during the ceasefire, which took effect on April 8. The truce followed over a month of hostilities that left thousands dead—predominantly in Iran and Lebanon—and severely rattled the global economy.
“The will to conclude”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to downplay Monday’s strikes, insisting a deal remained possible within days. Speaking to reporters during an official visit to India, Rubio noted that talks are currently “more about the precise wording of the initial text, which will take a few days.” He emphasized that President Trump “has expressed his will to conclude” a deal, adding that Trump would either sign it “or there won’t be one at all.”
Rubio struck a similarly firm note regarding the Strait of Hormuz. “Every strait must be open. And it will open, one way or another,” he warned. “What is happening down there is illegal… it is intolerable for the entire world, it is unacceptable.”
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
