US military strikes in southern Iran threaten fragile peace talks, raising tensions in the Middle East as Iranian negotiators arrive in Doha. With oil prices fluctuating and Israeli hostilities escalating, the prospect of a lasting accord hangs in the balance.

The US Armed Forces struck military targets in southern Iran on Monday “in self-defense,” according to a statement by US Central Command, in an episode that coincides with the…

The US military said it carried out strikes against targets including boats attempting to lay mines “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces”.