Iran accuses U.S. of ceasefire breach as Trump presses for deal

Iran accused the United States of a grave ceasefire violation after American forces struck missile launch sites and boats in southern Iran that were attempting to lay mines, widening pressure on an already fragile truce even as negotiations continued in Qatar. The Iranian foreign ministry warned of consequences, and Iranian officials and state media cast the attacks as proof of U.S. bad faith and unreliability.

U.S. Central Command said the Monday strikes were a self-defense move designed to protect U.S. troops from threats posed by Iranian forces. CENTCOM said it was acting with restraint during the ceasefire, but Tehran rejected that framing and said the action crossed a red line. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also threatened retaliation after the strikes, keeping military escalation on the table while diplomats remained active.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a deal with Iran could still be possible, though it might take a few days. Donald Trump struck a harder tone, posting that he wanted a “Great Deal for all or, no Deal at all.” The White House has signaled that a broader agreement was still being worked through rather than finalized, leaving open the possibility of a pause in the fighting but no clear breakthrough yet.

The Strait of Hormuz remained at the center of the diplomacy. The shipping chokepoint has been a recurring flash point in the conflict, and the latest exchanges followed Iranian actions around the waterway that helped trigger the new round of strikes. The talks have centered not only on stopping the fighting but also on Iran’s nuclear program and reopening shipping through the strait, where control of maritime traffic carries direct implications for global energy markets.

The conflict has already rippled well beyond the battlefield. Iran began restoring internet access after one of the longest nationwide shutdowns ever, adding a domestic backdrop to the confrontation. In the United States, average gas prices climbed above $4.10 per gallon, the highest since 2022, underscoring how quickly fighting around southern Iran and the Strait of Hormuz can affect daily costs far from the region itself.