US strikes Iran missile sites and mine laying vessels as Trump’s promised peace deal remains elusive

US forces have conducted strikes on southern Iran, targeting missile launch sites and boats attempting to lay mines, in a move that tests a seven-week ceasefire. The US Central Command (Centcom) stated the actions were defensive and did not signify an end to the ceasefire.

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Centcom “continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire”.

In Iran, the news website Tabnak reported four Guard troops killed in American strikes on boats. Iranian state television also reported explosions near Bandar Abbas, a key port city. However, the Mehr news agency later stated the situation was "completely under control."

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The situation was “completely under control” and there was no reason for residents to worry.

The strikes occurred as a delegation of Iranian negotiators, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, arrived in Qatar for new talks. The presence of Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati fueled speculation that discussions might focus on the release of frozen Iranian assets held in banks outside Iran, particularly in Qatar.

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The memorandum of understanding being negotiated would reportedly see Iran restore commercial shipping through the strait of Hormuz but would not include negotiations over any nuclear issues.

President Trump faces criticism from within his party over reports that billions in frozen assets could be released to Tehran. Some senior Republicans view the reported terms of the peace deal as too similar to the 2015 nuclear agreement, which Trump withdrew from. The current memorandum of understanding reportedly focuses on restoring commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with nuclear issues to be addressed in a separate 30- to 60-day period after an agreement. Trump has reiterated his goal of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons and has demanded that Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium be destroyed or transferred to the US, describing it as "nuclear dust."

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On Monday he appeared to offer a concession to Tehran, announcing in a post on social media that the enriched uranium held in Iran could be “destroyed” inside the country, in a process overseen by an international nuclear agency.