Washington, May 26: The United States military has confirmed carrying out “self-defence” strikes in southern Iran, targeting missile launch sites and boats allegedly involved in laying naval mines, amid ongoing diplomatic efforts over the Iran conflict.
According to Capt. Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for the US Central Command, the action was aimed at protecting American troops from potential threats posed by Iranian forces. He added that the military was exercising restraint despite heightened tensions during the ceasefire period.
While specific operational details were not disclosed, the development came shortly after US President Donald Trump stated that negotiations related to Iran were “proceeding nicely”.
Trump also proposed expanding the Abraham Accords by encouraging several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan, to establish or formalise diplomatic ties with Israel. He said the countries should “simultaneously” join the US-backed framework aimed at strengthening regional cooperation.
The Abraham Accords were first signed in 2020 by United Arab Emirates and Bahrain during Trump’s first term in office. The initiative later expanded to include Sudan and Morocco.
However, Trump’s latest proposal has drawn mixed reactions. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly maintained that normalisation with Israel would require concrete progress toward Palestinian statehood. Pakistan has also continued to support the Palestinian cause and does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.
Islamabad-based analyst Syed Mohammad Ali said Pakistan’s position remains unchanged despite the renewed push from Washington. Former Pakistani ambassador to the United States Masood Khan noted that introducing the Abraham Accords into the ongoing negotiations adds a new diplomatic layer to an already sensitive process.
Trump indicated that discussions on expanding the accords were raised during talks held over the weekend. He suggested that even Iran could eventually become part of the framework if a broader agreement is reached.
The Abraham Accords were designed to enhance diplomatic, economic and security cooperation across the Middle East and North Africa, with Washington viewing them as a pathway toward wider regional engagement with Israel.