US Military Strikes Iranian Port City as Ceasefire Hangs by a Thread
The US military launched a new strike on Iran, targeting a military site in Bandar Abbas, a strategic port city. In addition to ground attacks, US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed its forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones deemed a threat to the Strait of Hormuz.
Centcom stated it targeted Iran’s ground control station in Bandar Abbas as the facility prepared to launch a fifth drone. Meanwhile, local Iranian media reported explosions heard in the eastern part of the city.
The attacks occurred amid a fragile ceasefire between the two nations and ongoing protracted negotiations to end a three-month conflict that has disrupted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and spiked global energy prices. Centcom claimed its actions were defensive.
“A measured, purely defensive move intended to uphold the ceasefire,” Centcom stated.
During Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, US President Donald Trump stated Iran’s position had weakened in negotiations. He insisted US military strategy would not be influenced by upcoming midterm elections.
“We may have to go back and finish it, or maybe not,” Trump said.
At the meeting, Trump also urged Gulf states to sign the Abraham Accords to normalise relations with Israel, which joined the US in launching the conflict on 28 February and is now engaged in hostilities with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump threatened to restart large-scale bombing campaigns if Iran rejected his demands.
Despite having expressed optimism last weekend that a peace deal was “largely negotiated,” Trump reversed course on Wednesday, stating the US was “not satisfied.”
Prior to this incident, Centcom confirmed a “defensive strike” on Monday in southern Iran, targeting missile sites and vessels attempting to lay mines to protect US forces.
The Iranian government strongly condemned the series of strikes, calling them a clear breach of the mutual agreement.
“A serious violation of the ceasefire,” Iran condemned, vowing its government “will not allow any hostile act to go unanswered.”
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also claimed to have shot down a US drone and fired on fighter jets and other drones entering their airspace, though without specifying when. The IRGC asserted Iran has the “legitimate and certain right” to retaliate against any ceasefire violations by US forces. (BBC/Z-2)
The statement was made by Mojtaba on Tuesday, 26 May, in a message marking the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.