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The US military has unleashed fresh strikes against Iranian missile launch sites and boats on the Strait of Hormuz.
Military officials insisted that the airstrikes were carried out in ‘self-defence’ and to ‘protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.’
The newest strikes on Monday have solid a shadow over the already fragile ceasefire and raised doubts a few deal being reached.
US Central Command’s spokesman Timothy Hawkins said: ‘Targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines. U.S. Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint throughout the ongoing ceasefire.’
Iran has not yet responded to the most recent attacks, but state-linked media has hinted that they breach the present ceasefire deal.
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Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, signalled that the talks between Washington and Tehran were continuing despite the military motion.
When asked concerning the airstrikes, he said: ‘The straits must be open, they’re going to be open come what may, so that they have to be open.’
Esmail Baghaei, the spokesperson for Iran’s negotiation team, said that while the parties have made headway on a big a part of the problems, the signing of an agreement was not imminent.
Monday’s strikes targeted the port city of Bandar Abbas, where an Iranian naval base is positioned, the Recent York Times reports.
Each the US and Iran have previously exchanged fire throughout the pause in fighting.
In early May, explosions rocked cities across the Strait of Hormuz, including within the ports of Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas.
The US CENTCOM said on the time the strikes were in self-defence and targeted Iranian military facilities, while officials insisted that it didn’t mean that fighting had resumed.
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