Forces strike Iran's missile sites, mine-laying boats

On Monday, U.S. forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran to protect American troops, targeting missile launch sites and Iranian boats believed to be laying mines near the Strait of Hormuz. The operations were carried out in the Bandar Abbas area, home to Iran's main naval base, and U.S. Central Command said two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vessels were destroyed and a surface-to-air missile site was hit. Spokesman Tim Hawkins framed the action as a measured response to ongoing threats and emphasized restraint while the broader ceasefire effort remains in play.

Iranian state media, via Fars News Agency, reported four people were killed in the attack, though casualty figures remained unclear. Fox News cited footage of two Iranian boats laying mines and U.S. warplanes responding to the threat. A senior U.S. official said the strikes were over for now and did not signal the end of the weeks-long U.S.-Iran ceasefire. President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran were progressing nicely but warned that Washington would resume larger, stronger strikes if talks fail, while Tehran denied reports of transferring enriched uranium abroad.