The US Central Command (CENTCOM) informed that the attacks are designed "to protect our military from threats from Iranian forces.
US forces attacked missile launch sites in southern Iran and ships trying to drop naval mines on May 25, the US Central Command announced, amid Iran's top negotiators coming to Doha to negotiate an end to the conflict.
US forces conducted self-defense attacks in southern Iran today to protect our military from threats from Iranian forces," said Tim Hawkins, spokesman for the US Central Command.
The attack threatens to harm the ceasefire that began on August 8 as the US and Iran are trying to reach an agreement to end the conflict that has shaken the global economy with serious disruptions to energy flows.
Brent oil futures rose nearly 2% in the first trading session of May 26 in Asia after US attacks. Accordingly, Brent oil futures rose 1.40 USD, equivalent to 1.5%, to 97.56 USD/barrel at 00:06 GMT, after falling 7% in the previous session.
Hopes for a peace agreement for the Iranian conflict have been dealt another blow in recent days when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would crush Iranian-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. Iran demands that any peace agreement must apply to the fighting in Lebanon.
In a post on social networks, US President Donald Trump said that he hopes Iran will hand over enriched uranium to the US for destruction, or for destruction in Iran in the presence of international witnesses.
Previously, on May 25, Mr. Trump said that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Bahrain and Jordan signed the Abraham Agreement, a series of agreements arranged in 2020 with countries with a history of hostility to Israel, as part of a peace agreement with Iran is mandatory.
Mr. Trump said he spoke with the leaders of those countries on May 23 about efforts to end the Iranian conflict. Bahrain and the UAE signed these agreements, along with Morocco and Sudan.
US and Iranian forces have adhered to a ceasefire since April 8 while diplomats are pushing for a peaceful solution. Meanwhile, Iran maintains control over sea transport in the Gulf region through the Strait of Hormuz and the US Navy maintains blockades of Iranian ports.
