The United States on Monday said it carried out strikes on missile-related targets in southern Iran, despite ongoing diplomatic talks in Doha aimed at ending the conflict between Washington and Tehran.
The US Central Command confirmed the operation, describing it as a defensive action intended to protect American troops from threats allegedly posed by Iranian forces.
In a statement, Central Command spokesman, Tim Hawkins, said the targets included missile launch sites and boats suspected of preparing to deploy naval mines.
“US forces conducted self-defence strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” Hawkins stated.
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He, however, did not provide additional operational details regarding the attacks.
The latest strikes come even as a fragile ceasefire that took effect on April 8 continues to hold, with both countries still engaged in negotiations expected to end the conflict that has rattled global energy markets.
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Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump weighed in on the negotiations, insisting that Iran’s enriched uranium must either be surrendered to the United States for destruction or eliminated under international supervision.
In a social media post, Trump suggested that the destruction process should take place under the observation of the International Atomic Energy Agency or a similar international body.
“The Enriched Uranium (Nuclear Dust!) will either be immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed or, preferably, in conjunction and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place or, at another acceptable location, with the Atomic Energy Commission, or its equivalent, being witness to this process and event,” Trump wrote.
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TVC News Online had earlier on Monday, reported that the US president proposed that several Middle Eastern countries should formally join the Abraham Accords as part of a broader peace arrangement involving Iran.
Trump said nations including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Bahrain and Jordan should become signatories to the agreement brokered in 2020 to normalise relations with Israel.
According to him, he discussed the issue with leaders of the countries during conversations held on Saturday as part of efforts to end the conflict with Iran.
Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates are already members of the accords, alongside Morocco and Sudan.
