DUBAI/WASHINGTON, May 25 (Reuters) – U.S. forces on Monday conducted strikes in southern Iran against targets including boats attempting to lay mines and missile launch sites, describing them as defensive actions. These strikes occurred as Iran’s top negotiator and foreign minister were in Doha for talks with Qatar’s prime minister regarding a potential deal with the U.S. to end the three-month-old war, an official briefed on the visit stated on Monday. This followed Washington and Tehran downplaying hopes for an imminent breakthrough.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier told reporters in New Delhi that the U.S. would give diplomacy every chance to succeed before considering “another way” to deal with Iran. Rubio stated there was a “pretty solid thing on the table” concerning Iran’s ability to open the Strait of Hormuz, engage in a “very real, significant, time-limited negotiation on the nuclear matter,” and expressed hope for its success.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, stating that talks with Iran were progressing “nicely” but warned of new attacks if they failed. He wrote, “It will only be a Great Deal for all, or no Deal at all.” Hours later, U.S. Central Command announced in a statement that it had conducted new strikes “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.” Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a Central Command spokesperson, said, “U.S. Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire.”
Also on Monday, Iranian news agencies reported that Iran claimed to have downed a “hostile” stealth drone using a new air defense system, without specifying its origin. Fars news agency quoted unnamed officials as stating, “This is a sign from us that no more stealth drones can penetrate the skies of the Persian Gulf.”
In another sign of regional tensions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that Israel would intensify strikes against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. Shortly after, Israel’s military confirmed it was attacking Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley and other areas. Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a ceasefire in mid-April, but Israel has continued airstrikes, which it claims are acts of self-defense against Hezbollah, a group not party to the truce.
The official briefed on the Iranian delegation’s Doha visit informed Reuters that discussions centered on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Iran’s central bank governor also attended to discuss the potential release of frozen Iranian funds as part of a final deal. Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei had previously stated that nuclear issues would only be negotiated after a framework accord was agreed upon. Trump has stated his primary goal in the conflict is to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon using its highly enriched uranium. Tehran has consistently denied any such intentions.
In his Truth Social post, Trump also urged more Arab and Muslim states to sign the Abraham Accords, which were brokered during his first term to normalize ties between those states and Israel. He declared that Saudi Arabia and Qatar should sign immediately, with Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey following suit, terming his request mandatory. Netanyahu’s office did not respond to a request for comment. A Pakistani source familiar with the matter suggested that Trump’s statement reflected an attempt to leverage Iran diplomacy for a broader push for the accords, but emphasized that the two issues were “not interlinked and cannot be made so.” Others viewed the suggestion as an attempt to make an Iran deal more acceptable to skeptics. Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group, commented, “Trump is trying to sell an Iran deal as an Abraham Accords sequel: good for Israel, good for the region, tough enough for Washington.” He added, “But he is trading one fantasy for another — from forcing Iran to surrender to pretending a fragile deal can anchor a new Middle East order.”
Baghaei stated that the potential Iran deal contained no specific details on the management of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway through which about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas typically flows. He added that Iran would not charge tolls for ships passing through but would charge for services like navigation and environmental protection measures, under a protocol to be agreed with Oman, located on the opposite shore. Japan’s Nikkei newspaper, citing a Middle East diplomatic source, reported that the U.S. and Iran were discussing a plan to open the strait approximately 30 days after reaching a deal to end hostilities. Nikkei reported that Iran would then clear mines from the strait during a 30-day window, allowing ships from all countries to navigate freely and safely thereafter.
Since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, only a few dozen vessels have been passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a significant decrease from the previous daily average of 125 to 140. Iran’s state TV reported on Monday that 32 vessels and five oil tankers passed through the strait in the past 24 hours with the authorization of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards naval forces. The standoff has led to a spike in oil prices and increased costs for fuel, fertilizer, and food. On Monday, oil prices fell more than 4% to two-week lows amidst optimism for an imminent deal.
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