An Iranian flag flutters in the wind as ships remain anchored on May 16, 2026 in the Strait of Hormuz near Larak Island, Iran.
Majid Saeedi | Getty Images News | Getty Images
U.S. forces have conducted “self defense” strikes in southern Iran early Tuesday, with U.S. Central Command saying that this was to “protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.”
CENTCOM spokesman Tim Hawkins said targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines.
“U.S. Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” Hawkins added.
The moves come as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to push for a peace deal in the region, with Trump saying Monday stateside that the talks were “proceeding nicely”
In a Truth Social post, the U.S. President said Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium will be “immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed,” destroyed in Iran or “at another acceptable location.”
Tehran has not signaled any willingness to allow its stockpile of uranium to be destroyed, nor taken to the U.S.
Separately, the U.S. President has also urged Arab nations to sign the Abraham Accords, which would normalize relations with Israel.
However, Pakistan has roundly rejected the demand, with a source telling Reuters that “two issues were “not interlinked and cannot be made so.”
This is breaking news, please check back for updates.
