The United States struck Iranian boats and missile-launch sites in the Strait of Hormuz. As negotiations to end the war continue, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced it carried out “self-defense strikes” that could further complicate talks between President Donald Trump’s administration and Tehran.

‘U.S. forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,’ CENTCOM spokesman Captain Timothy Hawkins said in a statement. ‘Targets included missile-launch sites and Iranian vessels attempting to emplace mines. U.S. Central Command continues to defend its forces while exercising restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,’ the spokesman added.

Similar incidents occurred in recent weeks. In early May, in particular, U.S. military forces targeted Iranian military installations they said were responsible for a series of “unprovoked” attacks using missiles, drones and small vessels against U.S. Navy ships in the Strait.

Trump’s announcement

As the strikes were underway, Trump posted on Truth about Iran’s uranium stockpile, a key issue in negotiations to end the war. Tehran reportedly holds about 440 kilograms of material enriched to 60%; with a few additional relatively simple steps, that uranium could reach the enrichment level necessary for weapons production.

“The enriched uranium (nuclear powder!) will be immediately delivered to the United States to be brought home and destroyed or, preferably, destroyed on site or at another acceptable location, in collaboration and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, with the Atomic Energy Commission, or an equivalent body, acting as witness to this process and event,” the U.S. president announced. Last week Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that the United States would not back down in talks on the matter.

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