Fresh US strikes near Strait of Hormuz shake Iran ceasefire talks

Iran has accused the United States of committing a “gross violation” of the existing ceasefire after American forces carried out fresh air strikes in southern Iran, escalating tensions amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to extend the truce.

Strikes confirmed by Centcom

According to a report by BBC, the strikes were confirmed by the United States Central Command (Centcom), which said that the US forces had targeted Iranian missile sites and boats allegedly attempting to place mines in what it described as “self-defence strikes” conducted on Monday.

In response, Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the attacks and said the US would bear responsibility for the consequences of its “aggressive and unjustified actions” in the Hormozgan region. It is located along the Strait of Hormuz, which is a strategically vital shipping route that Iran has blocked during the conflict, contributing to rising global energy prices.

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“Without a doubt, the Islamic Republic of Iran will not leave any evil unanswered and will not hesitate to defend the Iranian nation,” the Iranian statement said.

The latest escalation comes amid fragile negotiations aimed at extending the ceasefire that took effect on April 8 after weeks of conflict between Iran, the US and Israel. The war began on February 28 with coordinated attacks by the US and Israel, including one strike that killed Iran’s supreme leader.

US reasons out the attack

In its statement, Centcom said that the US forces “conducted self-defence strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces”. While the US military did not specify the exact target locations, a New York Times report cited an official saying the strikes focused on areas near Bandar Abbas, a southern Iranian port city and key naval base situated on the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian state media earlier reported that authorities in Bandar Abbas were investigating explosions heard in the area. Later, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had downed a US drone and opened fire on a fighter jet that entered Iranian airspace, though no timeline was provided.

The developments come as international mediation efforts continue. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a deal remained possible but would “take a few days”. President Donald Trump had earlier suggested an agreement was close before later instructing negotiators “not to rush into” a settlement.

Ceasefire not being followed?

According to US media reports, discussions are centred on a possible 60-day ceasefire extension, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and future negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme. Iran has maintained that progress has been made, though officials said a final agreement “is not imminent”.

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The talks, largely mediated by Pakistan, have also involved Qatari mediators in recent days. Reuters reported that Iran’s central bank governor attended negotiations in Doha to discuss frozen Iranian assets and issues related to enriched uranium stockpiles and maritime access through the Strait of Hormuz.

Western nations, along with the US and Israel, have long accused Iran of enriching uranium to develop nuclear weapons, while Tehran continues to insist that its nuclear programme is intended solely for peaceful purposes.