The U.S. military carried out what it described as “self-defense strikes” Monday against Iranian vessels allegedly placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. Central Command. CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins said American forces “eliminated” two boats operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps after they were observed deploying mines in the strategic waterway. U.S. forces also struck a surface-to-air missile site in Bandar Abbas, Fox News reported.
According to Hawkins, the missile installation at Iran’s main naval base had been targeting U.S. aircraft. He said the operation was necessary “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.”
“U.S. Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” Hawkins said in a statement obtained by the outlet. Both the American strikes and the IRGC’s reported mine activity appear to violate a fragile cease-fire that remains under discussion following intense diplomatic negotiations over the weekend.
Under a preliminary agreement between Washington and Tehran reportedly mediated by Pakistan, the Strait of Hormuz would reopen without transit fees, hostilities would pause for 60 days, and both sides would enter talks aimed at resolving concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
As part of the proposed arrangement, Tehran would remove mines already positioned near the strait and permit commercial vessels to move through freely, according to Axios, which cited details of the framework.
In exchange, the United States would ease its blockade on Iranian ports and suspend some sanctions, allowing Iran to resume oil exports. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned that negotiations remain incomplete.
Despite the latest military action, two sources told Fox News that the “defensive strikes” are “over for now” and are not viewed as signaling the collapse of the delicate cease-fire.