US military strikes Iranian targets as peace talks commence in Doha
Strikes on missile sites and vessels coincide with arrival of Iranian delegation in Qatar, while President Trump remains in Beijing for summit with Chinese counterpart.
United States forces have conducted strikes on targets in southern Iran, including missile launch sites and vessels allegedly attempting to emplace naval mines, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Monday. The operation was described as a "self-defence" measure necessary to protect American troops from threats posed by Iranian forces, occurring despite an official ceasefire between the two nations that has been in effect since 8 April 2026.
CENTCOM spokesperson Navy Captain Tim Hawkins stated that the command continued to defend its forces while exercising restraint during the ongoing ceasefire. However, the command provided limited further details regarding the extent of the operation. Al Jazeera reporter Alan Fisher, reporting from Washington, noted that information from the US side remains scarce, making it difficult to assess whether the skirmish was an isolated incident or part of a broader escalation.
The military action coincided with the arrival of a high-level Iranian delegation in Doha, Qatar, for peace negotiations with Washington. The delegation includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who have travelled to discuss roadblocks to a permanent peace deal aimed at ending the three-month-long conflict.
US President Donald Trump, who is currently in Beijing for a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, addressed the situation by stating that peace talks were "proceeding nicely". The summit marks the first visit by an American president to China since 2017 and covers trade, artificial intelligence, and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite the diplomatic engagement, Trump insisted on a "substantial deal", warning on Truth Social that failure to reach an agreement would result in a return to conflict that would be "bigger and stronger than ever before". He emphasised that only a "Great Deal for all" would be acceptable, or no deal at all.
Market reactions to the events were immediate, with oil prices falling below US$100 a barrel on Tuesday as investors processed the geopolitical volatility. The strikes introduce significant uncertainty into the diplomatic process, with observers noting that the military action could potentially derail the ongoing negotiations.
