The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran came under renewed strain on Tuesday, May 26, the 88th day of the American-Israeli war on Iran, after US forces launched fresh strikes on targets in southern Iran.
The escalation followed recent remarks by US President Donald Trump and senior American officials suggesting that a deal between Washington and Tehran had been “largely” negotiated, raising expectations of a possible diplomatic breakthrough.
According to reports by a US broadcaster, the strikes were carried out. The US military said the operation was intended to counter threats against American personnel in the region.
“US forces conducted self-defence today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for US Central Command, told Fox News.
Hawkins said the targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats allegedly attempting to deploy naval mines. He added that US Central Command continued to act with “restraint” despite the ongoing ceasefire.
According to The New York Times, Hawkins said the strikes targeted an area near Bandar Abbas, a strategic southern port city that hosts an Iranian naval base along the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian media reported explosions in Bandar Abbas, while the semi-official Mehr News Agency later said the situation was under control.
The latest developments have added to uncertainty surrounding the ceasefire and ongoing efforts to reduce tensions between Washington and Tehran.
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