U.S. Central Command

US forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran targeting missile sites and mine-laying boats, potentially jeopardizing a fragile ceasefire and peace talks aimed at ending the Middle East war. The strikes occurred as Iranian negotiators arrived in Doha for negotiations and amid heightened Israeli military activity against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The US Navy has diverted over 100 commercial ships from the Strait of Hormuz as part of a blockade against Iran, according to the US Central Command. Concurrently, Iran has established the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) to assert military control and formalize claims over the Strait, requiring ships to obtain permission and potentially pay fees for passage.