US Strikes Iran Again, Says Deal Still Possible

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that a deal with Iran remains possible in the coming days, despite recent US strikes on Iran. Recent strikes on Tehran, claimed by Washington as defensive actions, have cast doubt on the fragile ceasefire.

‘There are ongoing talks in Qatar today, so we will see if we can make progress,’ Rubio told journalists during his visit to India, according to AFP on Tuesday, 26 May 2026.

‘I think there is a lot of back-and-forth over specific wording in the initial document, so it will take a few days,’ he added.

‘President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to reach an agreement. He will either secure a good deal or none at all,’ Rubio stated.

Rubio’s statement came after the US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees US military operations in the Middle East, announced that its forces had launched a series of strikes on southern Iran.

CENTCOM claimed the US strikes targeted missile launchers and Iranian vessels allegedly laying sea mines. CENTCOM also described the recent attacks as ‘defensive strikes’.

‘US forces launched defensive strikes in southern Iran to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,’ said CENTCOM spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins in a statement to Fox News, as reported by TRT World.

‘The targets included missile launch sites and Iranian vessels attempting to lay mines,’ Hawkins said. ‘CENTCOM continues to defend our forces while exercising restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,’ he added.

CENTCOM did not provide further details on the latest US strikes.

However, Iranian local media reported a series of explosions in the port city of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran, as well as in Sirik and Jask along the Gulf coast.

Fars News Agency reported residents in Bandar Abbas heard explosions, though the exact locations and sources remain unclear. Fars also reported simultaneous explosions in the Sirik and Jask areas of southern Iran facing the Gulf waters.

Iranian news agency Mehr stated that the situation in Bandar Abbas was under control following the explosions.

So far, there has been no official statement from the Iranian government or the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps regarding the latest US strikes.