Iran condemned US strikes as a "gross violation" of the ceasefire

Iran claims that the US has committed a "gross violation" of the ceasefire with new airstrikes on the country, UNN reports, citing the BBC.

Details

U.S. Central Command (Centcom) stated a day earlier that Iranian missile sites and boats attempting to lay mines were targeted in what it called "self-defense strikes" in southern Iran on Monday.

U.S. Central Command did not provide details on the location of the strikes, but an official cited by the New York Times said they were aimed at an area near Bandar Abbas – a southern port city and the site of an Iranian naval base located in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it holds the US responsible for the consequences of "aggressive and unjustified actions" in the Hormozgan region, which has a coastline along the Strait of Hormuz – a key waterway that Iran has blocked, causing a sharp rise in global energy prices.

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It is unclear what impact the strikes will have on negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.

"Without a doubt, the Islamic Republic of Iran will not leave any evil unanswered and will not hesitate to defend the Iranian nation," the Iranian statement said.

The US and Israel launched a war with Iran on February 28 with a wave of deadly attacks, including one that killed the country's Supreme Leader.

After weeks of fighting, a ceasefire was agreed upon on April 8, and it has largely held since then, with the exception of one notable clash in early May.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), following reports of the US strikes, claimed it had shot down a US drone and fired upon a fighter jet that entered Iranian airspace, though it did not specify when this occurred.

This comes amid negotiations aimed at extending the current ceasefire with the ultimate goal of ending the conflict.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that a negotiated deal is still possible, but it "will take a few days."

Rubio says Iran deal could take days amid new US strikes26.05.26, 09:19 • 4698 views

According to US media, the potential deal is not a final settlement but a memorandum of understanding that reportedly includes a 60-day extension of the ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a plan for further negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program.

Iran stated on Monday that some progress had been made, but a deal is "not imminent."

Iran states deal with US is "not imminent" despite progress25.05.26, 13:57 • 3402 views

One of the obstacles is reportedly Tehran's request for the return of frozen Iranian funds held abroad.

Peace talks are primarily being mediated by Pakistan. However, Iranian negotiators are participating in talks with Qatari mediators this week.

An official briefed on the visit to Doha told Reuters that the head of Iran's central bank attended the talks on Monday to discuss frozen assets, with discussions focused primarily on Iran's stockpiles of highly enriched uranium and the Strait of Hormuz.