The U.S. military says it conducts “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran, hitting missile launch sites and boats it says were placing mines. U.S. Central Command says the strikes are intended “to protect our troops” from threats posed by Iranian forces and that it uses “restraint” during an ongoing ceasefire. Several outlets report the action occurred May 25.
At the same time, President Donald Trump says on social media that negotiations are “proceeding nicely.” Coverage also links the strikes to ongoing discussions around a potential Iran agreement, described as possibly being close. France 24 notes that negotiations could be days away and highlights the diplomatic sensitivity of the timing.
Other reports add that Trump ties any prospective Iran war-ending agreement to expanding participation in the Abraham Accords, saying additional countries such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan should join, a proposal that faces criticism from some Republicans who favor a harder line on Iran. The outlets say further operational details about the threats and the specific targets were not immediately available.
