The US military said it carried out 'self-defence' strikes in southern Iran, targeting missile launch sites and boats placing mines near the Strait of Hormuz, even as President Donald Trump said that negotiations were "proceeding nicely".
US Central Command said that the strikes were done to protect American troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.
Strikes to protect US troops
"US forces conducted self-defence strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces," US Central Command spokesman Timothy Hawkins said in a statement when asked about reports of explosions near the strategic waterway.
He said the targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to deploy mines. "Targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines. US Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire," Hawkins added.
According to a senior US official, two vessels belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were spotted laying mines in the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz, while American forces also responded after a missile site allegedly targeted US warplanes, according to a report by Fox News.
The report said the US military destroyed both IRGC boats and also carried out strikes on a surface-to-air missile (SAM) site located in Bandar Abbas.
The senior US official described the attacks as "defensive strikes," saying both the Iranian vessels and the missile site were eliminated during the operation.
Two additional sources cited by Fox News said the strikes did not indicate a collapse of the ongoing ceasefire arrangement with Iran, stressing that the military action was limited in scope.
The developments came amid reports of explosions near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. Iranian media reported blasts in Bandar Abbas, while additional explosions were heard near Sirik and Jask along Iran’s southern coastline.
The senior US official later said the strikes were "over for now."
Enriched uranium must be handed over to US: Trump
This development comes hours after the US made headway in the ceasefire negotiations with Trump stating that Iran's enriched Uranium (Nuclear dust) will be "turned over" to the US to be destroyed or will be destroyed at an acceptable location.
Trump said this decision will be taken in "conjunction and collaboration" with Iran, signalling Tehran's relaxing its stand as the two countries attempt to reach a peace agreement.
"The Enriched Uranium (Nuclear Dust!) will either be immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed or, preferably, in conjunction and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place or, at another acceptable location, with the Atomic Energy Commission, or its equivalent, being witness to this process and event," Trump said in a post Truth Social.
Earlier, Trump said any agreement to end the Iran war should include a requirement for several additional countries, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, to join the Abraham Accords, the US-brokered agreements from Trump's first term aimed at normalising relations with Israel.
Trump pointed to Saudi Arabia and Qatar as countries that should "immediately" sign on, alongside Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan. Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates became the first countries to join in 2020.
He wrote that "after all the work done by the United States to try and pull this very complex puzzle together, it should be mandatory that all of these Countries, at a minimum, simultaneously sign onto the Abraham Accords".
Also Read: Iran's enriched uranium must be handed over, destroyed 'immediately': Trump
Also Read: 'Will be great, meaningful': Trump hints at progress in talks with Iran, blasts Obama administration
