US attacks missile sites in Iran despite ceasefire, says it acted to defend troops

US forces launched attacks on missile sites in southern Iran and on boats involved in laying mines, according to US Central Command. A spokesman, Tim Hawkins, stated that these were "self-defense strikes" aimed at protecting American troops from Iranian threats. The targets included missile launch sites and boats attempting to "emplace mines."

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US forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.

The military action took place as top Iranian negotiators arrived in Doha for talks intended to end a protracted war that has disrupted global energy flows. These strikes have jeopardized a fragile ceasefire that began on April 8, raising further uncertainty about the peace process.

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There were some talks going on in Qatar today, so we'll see if we can make progress. I think it's a lot of talking back and forth going on about specific language in the initial document, so it'll take a few days.

Despite the military engagement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio maintained that a diplomatic agreement with Iran is still achievable. Speaking to reporters in India, Rubio indicated that negotiations were ongoing in Qatar and that progress might be made in the coming days. He stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping route, open, calling any disruption "unlawful, it's illegal, it's unsustainable for the world, it's unacceptable."

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The Strait of Hormuz... is going to be open one way or another.

President Donald Trump also weighed in on the situation via his social media platform, Truth Social. He described the talks with Iran as proceeding "nicely" but issued a warning of potential further attacks if a satisfactory agreement was not reached, advocating for "a Great Deal for all, or no Deal at all."

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What's happening there is unlawful, it's illegal, it's unsustainable for the world, it's unacceptable.