U.S. Iran War Enters New Phase: Fighting AND Negotiating

The U.S. Iran War has entered a new and volatile phase: shooting on one track, negotiating on another. The U.S. military carried out fresh strikes in southern Iran near the Strait of Hormuz, targeting Iranian boats and missile launch sites, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Reuters reported that the strikes hit boats suspected of laying mines as well as missile sites, with CENTCOM describing the action as defensive.

The operation came as Washington accused Tehran of continuing efforts to mine the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil arteries. The waterway remains central to the crisis because any prolonged disruption could worsen pressure on global oil supplies and fuel prices.

U.S. Iran War: Washington Says It Acted In Defense

CENTCOM said the U.S. acted to protect American forces while showing restraint. Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesman, said the U.S. remained committed to defense under tense conditions. But the timing underscored the contradiction at the heart of the crisis. While American forces struck Iranian targets, diplomats were still trying to keep talks alive.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz “has to be open, one way or the other,” according to Reuters. Rubio also said the terms of a possible new deal with Iran were still under negotiation and that an agreement could take several more days. That statement came after President Donald Trump sent mixed signals about the diplomatic track. He first suggested that a deal could be within reach. Then he warned that the United States would not be pressured into accepting a bad agreement and called for patience.

Qatar Talks Continue Despite Strikes

The negotiations are now focused on Qatar, where an Iranian delegation has arrived for talks on extending the ceasefire, according to Al Jazeera. The outlet reported that U.S. forces said they had hit Iranian missile sites and boats while the Iranian delegation pursued talks on keeping the ceasefire alive.

The New York Post, citing CENTCOM, reported that U.S. strikes destroyed two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps boats that were laying mines and a surface-to-air missile site in Bandar Abbas. It also reported that the tentative framework under discussion includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz without tolls, a 60-day ceasefire and talks on Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran Threatens Retaliation

Iran has threatened retaliation for the strikes. That warning raises the risk that the ceasefire could collapse before negotiators lock down terms. Markets had briefly reacted with optimism after signs of a possible Hormuz deal. The Guardian reported that oil prices fell to two-week lows as traders hoped the U.S. and Iran were moving closer to an agreement, even though major issues remained unresolved. Brent crude fell below $100 a barrel in that trading session.