SynopsisAmerican forces launched defensive strikes in southern Iran targeting missile launch sites and boats laying mines. These actions were taken to protect troops. President Trump stated negotiations were proceeding well. He also reiterated demands for Iran to surrender enriched uranium and expand the Abraham Accords to include more regional nations.IANSUS-Iran Tensions: The US military struck missile launch sites and mine-laying boats in southern Iran on Monday, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM).US-Iran Tensions: The U.S. military carried out “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran on Monday (May 25, 2026), targeting missile launch sites and boats placing mines. This latest escalation came even as President Donald Trump stated on social media that negotiations were “proceeding nicely.” According to U.S. Central Command, the strikes were conducted “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” while emphasizing that the military was “using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire.”“U.S. forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” Capt. Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson, said, as quoted by FOX News.“Targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines. U.S. Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” Hawkins added. No further details were available at the time of filing this report, including specifics on the threats from Iran or what this development means for negotiations.Meanwhile, Trump reaffirmed that Iran must hand over its stockpile of enriched uranium to the United States for destruction, while also pressing for a broad expansion of the Abraham Accords potentially extending to Tehran itself as part of a future regional peace framework.Dubbing Iran’s enriched uranium “nuclear dust,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that it should either be transferred to the United States or destroyed under international supervision at an agreed location. “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,” Trump wrote.US strikes sink IRGC boats, hit missile siteTwo Iranian boats were spotted laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, while forces also responded after a missile site had targeted U.S. warplanes, FOX News reported, citing a senior U.S. official. The U.S. military destroyed two IRGC vessels and carried out a strike on a surface-to-air missile site located in Bandar Abbas.“These were defensive strikes,” the official told Fox News. The strikes do not indicate the ceasefire with Iran is over, two additional sources told the news outlet.This came after explosions were reported on Monday across several areas of the Strait of Hormuz, including one in southern Iran’s Bandar Abbas. Additional blasts were noted near Sirik and Jask along the strategic waterway. A senior US official confirmed to FOX News that the American strikes were “over for now.”Trump Ties Iran deal to Abraham Accords expansionEarlier, 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 U.S.-brokered agreements from Trump’s first term aimed at normalizing relations with Israel.The proposal came as the emerging Iran deal faced criticism from fellow Republicans who favor a harder line on Iran, and it could add new diplomatic complications to the negotiations. 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.”Trump pushes Abraham AccordsThe president said he brought up the Abraham Accords plan with leaders during negotiations on Saturday. He said he would accept “one or two” countries declining to sign, but said most should be willing. Egypt and Jordan already formally recognize Israel and have long-standing peace treaties. Turkey first recognized Israel in 1949.Read More News onRead More News on