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The United States carried out what it described as self-defense strikes against Iranian military targets over the weekend, while Iran claimed responsibility for attacks on facilities linked to the U.S. operation, highlighting the fragile state of a ceasefire as negotiations to end the conflict remain deadlocked.
U.S. Central Command said Sunday that American forces struck Iranian radar systems, air defense positions, a drone control station, and two one-way attack drones in Goruk and on Qeshm Island. The military said the operation was launched after Iran shot down a U.S. MQ-1 drone operating over international waters and was intended to neutralize threats to commercial and military vessels in the region.
According to CENTCOM, U.S. fighter aircraft destroyed the targeted systems without any American casualties.
The latest exchange came as Kuwait’s military reported Monday that its air defense systems were responding to missile and drone threats. In a statement posted on social media, Kuwaiti officials said explosions heard in the country were linked to interception efforts. Kuwait hosts a major U.S. military installation that has previously been targeted by Iran and Iranian-backed groups.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said its aerospace forces had launched retaliatory strikes against what it described as the source of a U.S. attack on a telecommunications tower on Sirik Island in Hormozgan province. Iranian officials did not specify the location of the base that was targeted.
In a statement carried by state media, the IRGC warned that continued U.S. military action would trigger a significantly stronger response and said Washington would bear responsibility for any escalation.
The United States and Iran have exchanged multiple rounds of strikes since agreeing to a ceasefire in early April, raising concerns about the durability of efforts to end a conflict that began with U.S. and Israeli military operations on Feb. 28.
Trump Signals Patience as Negotiations Continue
Despite the renewed violence, President Donald Trump signaled Monday that diplomatic negotiations remain active.
In a social media post, Trump urged critics of the prolonged talks to remain patient.
“Iran really wants to make a deal, and it will be a good one for the U.S.A. and those that are with us,” Trump wrote.
The negotiations have become increasingly complicated by disagreements over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, missile program, and the future status of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump outlined several conditions Friday for a final agreement, including a permanent Iranian commitment not to develop nuclear weapons, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to unrestricted shipping traffic, and the removal of any naval mines from the waterway.
Iranian officials have accused the Trump administration of slowing progress by introducing what they describe as excessive demands.
Strait of Hormuz Remains Major Sticking Point
The war has had significant economic consequences beyond the battlefield.
Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes, which previously carried roughly 20% of global oil shipments. The disruption has contributed to higher energy prices and concerns about global supply chains.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei on Monday accused the United States of violating the ceasefire through attacks on Iranian commercial shipping and called the actions an act of aggression.
Baghaei said communication between Washington and Tehran remains ongoing but acknowledged that negotiators have not reached a final agreement.
“No final result has been reached,” he said.
Lebanon Conflict Adds New Complications
Negotiations between Washington and Tehran are also being affected by continued fighting involving Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel seeks greater control over parts of southern Lebanon after Israeli forces captured Beaufort Ridge, a strategically important position and historic fortress.
A U.S. official said Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently held discussions with Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun as part of broader diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions and establishing conditions for a longer-term ceasefire.
Baghaei said any comprehensive agreement to end the broader conflict must include a resolution to fighting in Lebanon, calling that issue “integral” to both a ceasefire and any final peace arrangement.
