WASHINGTON, United States — The United States said it carried out what it described as “self-defence” strikes in southern Iran on Monday, May 25, 2026 targeting missile launch sites and Iranian vessels that American officials said were attempting to deploy naval mines, as diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran continued.
In a statement issued to the press, Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, said the operation was intended to protect American personnel in the region.
“U.S. forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” Hawkins said. “Targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines.”
He added: “U.S. Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire.”
The strikes came as President Donald Trump indicated that talks with Iran were continuing. Writing on Truth Social on Monday, Trump said negotiations were “proceeding nicely!” and warned that failure to reach an agreement could result in renewed fighting.
“It will only be a Great Deal for all or, no Deal at all — Back to the Battlefront and shooting, but bigger and stronger than ever before — And nobody wants that!” Trump wrote.
The president also urged additional Middle Eastern countries to join the Abraham Accords, the agreements brokered during his first administration that normalised relations between Israel and several Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.
Iranian Officials Respond
Iranian officials responded publicly to Trump’s remarks and the broader diplomatic process.
Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, wrote on X on Monday that Tehran would respond proportionately in both military and diplomatic matters.
“During the military war, our tactic was an eye for an eye; in the diplomatic war, it is action against action,” Rezaei wrote in a translated post.
“Do not believe the bluff of the failed president; time is against the Americans. If they want an agreement, they should negotiate; if they want $6 gas, they should stand firm and bluff until the grass grows under their feet. Iran does not bow to force or threats.”
Trump had said on Saturday that a framework for ending the conflict had been “largely negotiated” and stated that discussions were continuing over the final terms of an agreement.
He also said the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened as part of the arrangement.
Questions Over Regional Strategy
The administration’s strategy has faced criticism from analysts and some members of Trump’s political circle.
Rajan Menon, professor emeritus of International Relations at the City College of New York, questioned the rationale behind the strikes while negotiations were underway.
“If we have, as the president claims, destroyed Iran’s military power entirely, then it’s strange that we are now fighting in self-defense,” Menon told Newsweek on Monday night.
Menon also expressed doubt that Saudi Arabia or Qatar would join the Abraham Accords under current regional conditions.
“There is next to no chance that Saudi Arabia or Qatar will join, especially after what’s happened in Gaza,” he said.
Senior Republicans and former Trump administration officials also criticised reported elements of the emerging agreement.
John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, wrote on X on Sunday: “The ceasefire in Iran has only benefited the regime. It’s enabled the regime to pick itself up off the ground and start to rebuild its arsenal.”
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo similarly criticised the reported framework, arguing that it resembled the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action negotiated during Barack Obama’s presidency.
Republican Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, warned on Saturday that a proposed 60-day ceasefire could undermine recent military gains.
“Everything accomplished by Operation Epic Fury would be for naught!” Wicker wrote on X.
Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina also warned that such an agreement could shift the balance of power in the Middle East and pose long-term risks for Israel.
Trump, however, rejected comparisons with the 2015 nuclear accord, saying the agreement under discussion was “the exact opposite” of the earlier deal.
Oil and Fuel Prices in Focus
The latest developments have also renewed concerns over energy markets and fuel prices.
According to data from AAA, the national average price for regular gasoline in the United States stood at $4.507 per gallon on Monday before falling slightly to $4.49 on Tuesday.
Brent crude prices rose modestly on Tuesday morning following reports of the U.S. strikes.
Patrick De Haan of GasBuddy said uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz continued to affect market expectations.
“Until we see an agreement signed and a significant amount of ships transit through the Strait, the national average price of gasoline will likely remain well above $4/gal,” De Haan wrote on X.
Last week, he warned that oil prices could rise further if negotiations failed to produce a reopening of the strategic shipping route.
