The US military said Monday that it carried out "self-defence" strikes in southern Iran, including on missile launch sites and boats placing mines, even as President Donald Trump said on social media that negotiations were “proceeding nicely".
According to a statement from the US Central Command, the strikes were carried out “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces".
“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,” CENTCOM spokesman Timothy Hawkins wrote in the statement.
Further details were not immediately available, including more specifics on the threats from Iran and what this means for ongoing negotiations.
The strikes come amid a potential deal between both sides on ending the war, and that will allow for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the passageway for some 20 percent of global shipping which has been effectively blockaded by Iran since the start of the US-Israeli war on Tehran on 28 February.
