The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran came under fresh strain on Monday after US forces carried out what Washington described as “self-defence” strikes on Iranian missile launch sites and boats allegedly attempting to lay mines near the Strait of Hormuz, even as diplomatic talks to end the conflict continued behind closed doors.The latest escalation came hours after US President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning over Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, insisting that the material must either be surrendered to Washington or destroyed under international supervision as part of any future agreement.Posting on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “The Enriched Uranium (Nuclear Dust!) will either be immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed or, preferably, in conjunction and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place or, at another acceptable location, with the Atomic Energy Commission, or its equivalent, being witness to this process and event.”
US launches ‘self-defence’ strikes in southern Iran
Shortly after Trump’s remarks, the US Central Command confirmed military action targeting Iranian positions in the country’s south. According to CENTCOM spokesperson Capt Tim Hawkins, the strikes were aimed at neutralising threats posed to American troops during the ongoing ceasefire period.“US forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces. Targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines. US Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” Hawkins told Fox News.The strikes reportedly targeted areas near the strategically sensitive Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime oil routes. Iranian-linked media outlets later reported explosions in Bandar Abbas, Sirik and Jask along the southern coastline, though the precise locations and extent of the damage remained unclear.Iranian outlet Iran International reported several fatalities following what local media described as a joint US-Israeli strike on Larak Island near the Strait of Hormuz. Local reports identified three of the victims as Abbas Eslami, Ghodrat Zarangari and Abdolreza Golzari. Unconfirmed reports suggested some of those killed may have been linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Iran accuses US of ‘war crime’
Iran strongly condemned the strikes and accused Washington of deliberately targeting civilian areas during the conflict.Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei alleged that earlier US attacks at the start of the war had killed civilians, including children and teenage athletes, in the southern city of Lamerd.“On the afternoon of Saturday, 9 Esfand 1404—the very same day that the pupils of ‘Shajareh Tayebeh’ School in #Minab were reduced to dust and blood by three Tomahawk missiles—a residential area in the city of Lamerd, including a sports hall, was also targeted by four missiles known as PrMS. In the wake of the explosion of these missiles, 24 people, including a two-year-old girl, several teenage volleyball players, and numerous innocent women and men, were martyred. Over 130 others were injured, a significant number of whom have been left with permanent disabilities. These missiles detonated in mid-air before striking their target, transforming into more than 180,000 fragments composed of tungsten pellets; fragments that scattered in all directions at extremely high speed and force,” he said.Baghaei further added: “This attack was not the result of a mistake; there can now be no doubt that the United States Army fired this type of missile for the first time towards a residential area and sports hall in the city of Lamerd with the deliberate intent of testing its destructive power. This action constitutes a war crime—vile and unforgivable—and those who ordered and carried it out must be prosecuted in any competent court. The people of Iran will forever remember the memory and names of their martyred compatriots from Lamerd; and they will neither forget nor forgive this heinous crime.”
Peace talks continue despite rising tensions
Despite the renewed hostilities, diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran appeared to be continuing.According to a Nikkei report citing a Middle East diplomatic source, the US and Iran are discussing a proposal under which the Strait of Hormuz would reopen roughly 30 days after a formal agreement to end hostilities.Under the reported framework, Iran would remove mines from the waterway during the 30-day period following a deal. Once completed, vessels from all countries would be allowed to pass freely and safely through the strait, while Iran would also stop collecting transit fees.The proposal reportedly includes a 60-day extension of the current ceasefire to facilitate negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme and the future handling of enriched uranium stockpiles.However, uncertainty continues to surround the negotiations. Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated earlier on Monday that while progress had been made in several areas, Tehran was still not close to finalising an agreement.Trump also signalled caution over the pace of negotiations, saying on social media that he had instructed his representatives “not to rush into a deal.”
Trump pushes expanded Abraham Accords framework
In another diplomatic twist, Trump suggested that any eventual agreement with Iran should also include the expansion of the Abraham Accords, the US-backed agreements aimed at normalising ties with Israel.Trump said negotiations were “proceeding nicely” but argued that countries including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan should join the accords alongside existing signatories such as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.He wrote that “after all the work done by the United States to try and pull this very complex puzzle together, it should be mandatory that all of these Countries, at a minimum, simultaneously, sign onto the Abraham Accords.”The proposal could complicate negotiations further, particularly for Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, both of which have linked any normalisation with Israel to progress on Palestinian statehood.Analysts in Islamabad said Pakistan’s position on Israel remained unchanged despite Trump’s remarks, while former Pakistani ambassador to the US Masood Khan described the proposal as introducing “an altogether new dimension” to the diplomatic process.Even as talks continue, the latest military exchanges have renewed concerns that the ceasefire could collapse, raising fears that the US-Iran conflict may once again spiral into a wider regional war.
