U.S. carries out new strikes in southern Iran

U.S. forces have carried out “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran against missile launch sites and boats allegedly attempting to place mines, according to the U.S. military.

The strikes happened on Monday in southern Iran, following reports of explosions in the Bandar Abbas area, a major port city near the Strait of Hormuz.

“U.S. forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins told Fox News. “Targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines.”

Hawkins said U.S. CENTCOM “continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire.”

The strikes comes as President Trump says negotiations with Iran are continuing over a deal that would include reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

“Negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran are proceeding nicely!” Trump said in a social media post earlier Monday. “It will only be a Great Deal for all or, no Deal at all — Back to the Battlefront and shooting, but bigger and stronger than ever before — And nobody wants that!”

Trump said Saturday that an agreement had been “largely negotiated” between the United States, Iran and other countries, but remained subject to finalization.