The United States launched new self-defense strikes on Iran, the U.S. military confirmed on Monday night, May 25, potentially complicating negotiations to end the war initiated by President Donald Trump in February.
Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, a military spokesman, stated that the strikes occurred in southern Iran to protect U.S. troops from threats posed by Iranian forces. Targets included missile-launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to set mines. Hawkins noted that U.S. Central Command continues to defend forces while exercising restraint during the ongoing ceasefire.
The strikes followed a weekend of negotiations between the Trump administration and the Iranian regime aimed at ending the conflict. The war began on February 28 with massive U.S. strikes on Iran after months of pressure from Trump to halt Tehran's nuclear program. A tense ceasefire took effect on April 8 but has been interrupted by sporadic exchanges of fire.
In a statement carried by state media on Tuesday morning, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had downed an American drone, warning that it reserves the right to retaliate against ceasefire violations.
The U.S. military acknowledged the strikes Monday evening, hours after Trump posted on social media that Iran's enriched uranium must either be immediately turned over to the United States for destruction or disposed of elsewhere. Iran has yet to formally agree to these terms.
When asked about the renewed hostilities, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the United States would continue to pursue a diplomatic solution, noting that talks were ongoing in Qatar regarding the original framework for ending the war. We'll see if we can make progress, he said in the western Indian city of Jaipur before boarding a plane to New Delhi. It's a lot of talking back and forth about specific language in the initial document, so it'll take a few days. Rubio emphasized that Trump is committed to either making a good deal or no deal. The straits have to be open, he added. They're going to be open one way or the other.
On Tuesday morning, the price of Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, rose 3 percent to about $99 a barrel.
On Monday, Trump called on leaders of numerous countries to join the Abraham Accords, a set of treaties aimed at normalizing relations with Israel, as part of the settlement he is attempting to negotiate with Tehran. Trump posted on social media that Saudi Arabia and Qatar should sign first, followed by Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan. I am mandatorily requesting that all Countries immediately sign the Abraham Accords, and that, if Iran signs its Agreement with me, as President of the United States of America, it would be an Honor to have them also be part of this unparalleled World Coalition, Trump wrote.
Trump said on Saturday that U.S. and Iranian officials were in the final stages of reaching an agreement to extend the ceasefire as broader negotiations continue on the future of Iran's nuclear enrichment and control over the Strait of Hormuz.
