US hits Iran with new strikes, despite ceasefire

U.S. forces launched strikes against Iranian missile sites and boats trying to emplace mines in southern Iran on May 26, 2026, according to the U.S. Central Command. The operation, described as self-defense, targeted threats to American troops and raised concerns about the stability of a ceasefire that began April 8. The strikes took place as Iranian negotiators arrived in Doha for renewed talks to end the months-long Middle East war, which has disrupted global energy supplies by blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s state-run broadcaster IRIB reported explosions near Bandar Abbas around midnight local time, with authorities investigating the cause. Oil prices fluctuated following the strikes, with West Texas Intermediate dropping over 5% and Brent crude rising, reflecting uncertainty over a potential deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The ceasefire has held as diplomats push for a negotiated settlement, though Iran has maintained control over Gulf shipping routes. U.S. Navy efforts to blockade Iranian ports have further complicated efforts to restore normal trade flows. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to crush Hezbollah in Lebanon, a demand Iran has tied to any peace accord. Former U.S. President Donald Trump separately proposed that Iran hand over its enriched uranium for destruction, either in the U.S. or under international supervision, though it was unclear whether this would be part of negotiations. Trump also called for additional Middle Eastern nations to join the Abraham Accords, a move widely opposed by Gulf states due to its failure to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Gulf heavyweights like Saudi Arabia and Qatar have rejected normalization with Israel without progress on Palestinian statehood. Analysts doubt the region’s nations will comply with Trump’s latest demands, citing heightened security risks from the escalating conflict.