In a bold move on Monday, the US military executed “self-defense strikes” against Iranian vessels allegedly deploying mines in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, as confirmed by Central Command. This action underscores the high-stakes tension in the region, where the US aims to safeguard its interests and personnel.
According to Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for CENTCOM, US forces effectively neutralized two boats belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) suspected of mine-laying activities in the strait. Additionally, they targeted a surface-to-air missile installation in Bandar Abbas, a significant Iranian naval hub. This site was reportedly posing a threat to US aircraft operations, prompting decisive action from American forces.
Hawkins stated that these “self-defense strikes” were a necessary measure to shield US troops from imminent threats posed by Iranian military actions. “U.S. Central Command remains committed to defending our forces while exercising restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” he emphasized in a statement shared with media outlets.
These US military actions, alongside the mine-laying activities by the IRGC, are seen as breaches of a fragile cease-fire agreement. This truce is currently on the verge of being extended, following intense negotiations over the weekend aimed at potentially ending the prolonged conflict with Iran.
The emerging framework for peace, facilitated by Pakistan, envisions reopening the Strait of Hormuz without imposing tolls. It also aims to halt hostilities for a 60-day period, creating a brief opportunity to negotiate the cessation of Iran’s nuclear program. This tentative agreement between Washington and Tehran marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to stabilize the region.
The tentative deal between Washington and Tehran, which was brokered by Pakistan, would reopen the strait without tolls, end the fighting for 60 days and begin a short window to negotiate an end to the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.
Tehran would also clear the mines it had deployed at the strait’s checkpoint and allow ships to pass freely, according to parameters of the agreement, according to Axios.
In return, the US would lift its blockade on Iranian ports and waive some sanctions against the Iranian regime – allowing Tehran to sell oil again.
Follow The Post’s latest coverage on the blocked Strait of Hormuz and its lasting effects
President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio separately warned that the deal wasn’t finalized though.
A senior Trump administration official previously told The Post that the president may opt out if Tehran doesn’t commit to his terms, including a hardline on the nuclear program.
Even so, two sources told Fox News that the “defensive strikes” are “over for now” and do not indicate an end to the fraigle cease-fire.
Several other explosions were reported close to Sirik and Jask, two coastal cities along the strait and Gulf of Oman, respectively, earlier Monday.
