U.S. Launches Strikes in Southern Iran as Negotiators Gather in Doha

The United States military confirmed late Monday, 25 May 2026, that it had carried out “self‑defence strikes” on targets in southern Iran, even as Tehran’s top negotiators arrived in Qatar for talks aimed at securing a peace deal.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes targeted missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines, describing the action as necessary to protect U.S. forces. Navy Captain Tim Hawkins stressed that CENTCOM continues to defend its troops “while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire.”

Iranian sources told Al Jazeera that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had attacked a vessel at sea prior to the U.S. strikes, and several IRGC personnel were reported killed. The incident comes despite a ceasefire officially in place since April 8, raising fears of renewed escalation.

Reporting from Washington, Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher noted that such skirmishes have occurred before, with President Donald Trump previously insisting they did not constitute breaches of the truce. Fisher added that limited information from U.S. officials makes it unclear how extensive the latest operation was.

Meanwhile, a high‑level Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf arrived in Doha to discuss roadblocks to a permanent peace accord. Trump said negotiations were “proceeding nicely” but warned he would accept only a “Great Deal for all or no deal at all.”

Trump also tied the talks to the Abraham Accords, urging Muslim‑majority countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Pakistan to normalize ties with Israel as part of a broader settlement. Signed in 2020, the accords established diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco, with Sudan agreeing but not yet ratifying.

In a follow‑up post, Trump demanded that Iran’s enriched uranium be either handed over to the U.S. for disposal or destroyed under international supervision.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei acknowledged progress on “a large portion of the issues under discussion” but cautioned against expectations of an imminent breakthrough. He said the talks remain focused on ending the war and lifting the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, with nuclear matters to be negotiated separately over a 60‑day period if a framework is agreed.