U.S. bombs Iranian targets again as fragile ceasefire hangs by thread

The United States has confirmed fresh military strikes on southern Iran, saying the operation targeted Iranian missile installations and boats allegedly attempting to deploy naval mines near the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement, the US Central Command said the attacks were carried out in “self-defence” to shield American troops from threats posed by Iranian forces amid the fragile ceasefire tensions between both countries.

Central Command spokesperson, Capt. Tim Hawkins, said the US military remained committed to protecting its personnel while exercising restraint during the ongoing truce.

“The US military continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” Hawkins stated.

The BBC reports that Iran has yet to officially react to the latest strikes. However, the country’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baqai, earlier disclosed that although negotiations aimed at ending hostilities had recorded progress, an agreement was not close to being finalised.

“It is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion, but to say an agreement is imminent would be inaccurate,” Baqai said.

The latest military action has further raised uncertainty over the fate of any potential peace accord between Washington and Tehran.

Despite the escalation, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted diplomatic efforts were still alive, referencing ongoing discussions involving Iran’s lead negotiator, the Iranian foreign minister and Qatar’s prime minister.

Speaking during an official visit to India, Rubio said negotiations were continuing, though disagreements over the wording of a draft framework remained unresolved.

“We’ll see if we can make progress. There’s still a lot of back-and-forth over specific language in the initial document, so it could take several more days,” Rubio told reporters.

He added that President Donald Trump remained interested in securing a deal but would only support an agreement favourable to the United States.

“He’s either going to make a good deal or no deal,” Rubio said.

Addressing the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, Rubio stressed that the critical shipping route must remain accessible.

“The straits have to be open. They’re going to remain open one way or another. What is happening there is unlawful, illegal, unsustainable for the world and unacceptable,” he added.

According to US officials, the strikes focused on areas around Bandar Abbas, a key southern Iranian port city that hosts a major naval base overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital oil transit routes.

Iranian state media earlier reported that authorities in Bandar Abbas were investigating explosions heard in parts of the city.

Tensions in the region have remained high since an earlier confrontation in May between Iranian and US naval destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz, an incident both sides blamed on each other.

Although Trump recently suggested that both countries were nearing an agreement, he later cautioned negotiators against rushing the process, while Rubio had earlier hinted that a breakthrough could emerge this week.

However, Tehran has maintained that while discussions have advanced, no final agreement is within immediate reach.