US strikes Iranian missile sites as tensions surge despite ceasefire

The CENTCOM says operations were conducted in what it described as self-defence to protect American personnel from threats posed by Iranian forces

WASHINGTON: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-May 26^th, 2026) US forces carried out strikes targeting missile installations in southern Iran and vessels suspected of attempting to lay naval mines, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Monday, escalating tensions at a critical moment and raising fresh doubts over a fragile ceasefire in the region.

The CENTCOM said that the operations were conducted in what it described as self-defence to protect American personnel from threats posed by Iranian forces.

Spokesman Tim Hawkins said the targets included missile launch sites and boats believed to be preparing to deploy mines, though no further operational details were provided.

The reported strikes come as Iranian negotiators arrived in Doha for another round of talks aimed at ending the months-long conflict, while hostilities also intensified in southern Lebanon between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Oil markets reacted to the developments with volatility, as concerns grew that renewed escalation could disrupt maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy corridor.

Iran’s state media reported multiple explosions near the port city of Bandar Abbas late Monday night. Authorities said the situation remained under control and an investigation into the blasts was underway.

The ceasefire, which had been in place since early April, now faces renewed uncertainty as diplomatic efforts continue alongside rising military activity.

Separately, statements from US President Donald Trump added further pressure to ongoing negotiations.

<?php /*?> <?php */?>

In a social media post, he said Iran’s enriched uranium should either be handed over to the United States for destruction or eliminated under international supervision, with monitoring by an atomic oversight body.

Trump also reiterated his push for broader regional alignment with the Abraham Accords, suggesting that several countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye, Bahrain and Jordan should consider joining as part of a wider peace framework. Some Gulf states, however, have previously stated they will not normalise relations with Israel without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier suggested that a potential agreement with Iran could be reached soon, though Iranian officials played down expectations, saying that while progress had been made on several issues, a final deal was not imminent.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an intensification of military operations in Lebanon, accusing Hezbollah of increasing drone attacks against Israeli forces. He also reiterated that any final agreement with Iran must fully eliminate what he described as the nuclear threat.

The diplomatic efforts continue amid competing pressures from military escalation, regional security concerns, and stalled negotiations, with uncertainty persisting over whether a broader settlement can still be achieved.