The United States military on Monday carried out limited strikes in southern Iran, targeting missile launch sites and Iranian boats near the Strait of Hormuz. The US described the operation as a “self-defence” action aimed at protecting American troops from threats posed by Iranian forces during the ongoing ceasefire period.

In a statement released by US Central Command (CENTCOM), the military said the strikes were necessary to respond to growing security threats in the region. The operation took place even as diplomatic efforts and peace talks with Iran continue.

“US forces conducted self-defence strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” CENTCOM spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins (Navy Captain) said in a statement to Fox News.

“US Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” he further said.

According to Hawkins, the targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats that were allegedly trying to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway is considered one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes because a large portion of global oil trade passes through it.

A senior US official said two boats belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were identified while allegedly laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. This reportedly triggered the American military response. US forces also targeted a surface-to-air missile (SAM) site in Bandar Abbas after it allegedly attempted to target American warplanes operating in the area.

The official said both the Iranian vessels and the missile site were destroyed during the strikes. Despite the military action, US officials maintained that the operation was limited and controlled.

Two additional sources told Fox News that the strikes did not signal the end of the ceasefire with Iran. The sources said the operation was carefully restricted in scope and was intended only to neutralise immediate threats.

The strikes came as reports of explosions emerged from areas near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. Iranian media reported blasts in Bandar Abbas, while explosions were also heard near the southern coastal towns of Sirik and Jask. There has been no official confirmation from Iran regarding the extent of the damage or casualties caused by the strikes.

The latest developments have added fresh tension to an already sensitive situation in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz remains a key flashpoint because of its importance to international trade and energy supplies. Any military activity in the region often raises concerns about global oil markets and wider regional stability.

The military action also came shortly after US President Donald Trump repeated his demand that Iran hand over its enriched uranium to the United States for destruction. Trump also spoke about expanding the Abraham Accords, the US-backed agreements aimed at improving relations between Israel and several Arab nations. He suggested that Iran could eventually become part of a larger regional peace framework.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump described Iran’s enriched uranium as “nuclear dust” and said it should either be transferred to the United States or destroyed under international supervision.

“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,” Trump wrote.

The situation continues to remain tense as diplomatic discussions and military actions unfold simultaneously in the region.