The United States military said it carried out what it described as \u201cself-defense\u201d strikes in southern Iran on Monday, targeting missile launch sites and boats allegedly placing naval mines, even as President Donald Trump insisted negotiations with Tehran were progressing positively.<\/p>\n
US Central Command spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins said the strikes were aimed at protecting American troops from threats posed by Iranian forces while maintaining restraint during the ongoing ceasefire.<\/p>\n
The military did not immediately provide further details about the operation or specify the nature of the threats.<\/p>\n
The strikes came despite Trump writing on social media that talks with Iran were \u201cproceeding nicely\u201d as negotiators continued efforts to secure a broader agreement to end the conflict.<\/p>\n
Iran had not officially responded by the time of filing this report, although Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf was in Qatar for negotiations linked to the possible deal with Washington.<\/p>\n
Qatar, which suffered heavy attacks from Iran during the war, currently holds billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets.<\/p>\n
Iranian news outlet Tabnak, considered close to former Revolutionary Guard commander Mohsen Rezaei, reported that four Revolutionary Guard members were killed in US strikes targeting boats.<\/p>\n
Iranian state television also reported explosions near Bandar Abbas, a strategic city on the Strait of Hormuz that hosts a military port and dual-use airport.<\/p>\n
The latest strikes have further strained a fragile ceasefire that has held for weeks since the conflict erupted earlier this year.<\/p>\n
The Strait of Hormuz remains under heavy Iranian control, continuing to disrupt global oil and natural gas markets through one of the world\u2019s most critical energy routes.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Trump said any future agreement with Iran should require several countries, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, to join the Abraham Accords, the US-backed diplomatic agreements aimed at normalising relations with Israel.<\/p>\n
Trump said countries including Saudi Arabia and Qatar should \u201cimmediately\u201d sign onto the accords, arguing that broader regional cooperation was necessary following efforts by the United States to stabilise the Middle East.<\/p>\n
The proposal has added a new dimension to ongoing negotiations and drawn attention to the political pressures facing the White House.<\/p>\n
Pakistan has maintained that recognition of a Palestinian state remains central to its position on relations with Israel.<\/p>\n
Islamabad-based analyst Syed Mohammad Ali said Pakistan\u2019s policy toward Israel remained unchanged despite Trump\u2019s latest remarks.<\/p>\n
Former Pakistani ambassador to the United States Masood Khan also noted that the Abraham Accords had not previously formed part of the negotiation agenda.<\/p>\n
Trump suggested that even Iran could eventually join the accords if a broader agreement is reached.<\/p>\n
The Abraham Accords were first introduced during Trump\u2019s first term, with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates becoming the first Arab states to formally establish diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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