U.S. strikes Iranian targets as Trump says deal talks continue

U.S. strikes on Iranian targets killed four people even as Washington and Tehran kept talking, underscoring how quickly military pressure is colliding with diplomacy over the Strait of Hormuz, frozen assets and regional security. U.S. Central Command said the strikes were “self-defense strikes” carried out “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.”

CENTCOM said the targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines, a reminder that the confrontation at sea is still shaping the nuclear and sanctions talks. The latest action came during a fragile ceasefire that began on April 8, 2026, and followed earlier flare-ups in the Strait of Hormuz, where both sides have traded accusations over maritime incidents.

President Donald Trump said negotiations with Tehran were “proceeding nicely,” but he also warned that any outcome would be “a Great Deal for all, or, no Deal at all.” Marco Rubio said a deal could take “a few days” and insisted that the Strait of Hormuz has to be open, saying it must be open “one way or the other.” The message from Washington was clear: talks are continuing, but the military option remains active.

Iranian officials have said the sides have made progress without reaching an agreement, while also raising objections over the terms under discussion. One major sticking point is money. Reporting tied to the talks has described Iran as seeking the release of about $24 billion in frozen funds as part of any memorandum with Washington. The discussions have been taking place through mediation in Qatar, which has emerged as the key venue for the talks.

The strikes also reverberated inside Iran. Iranian media reported explosions in Bandar Abbas around the latest attacks, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it downed a U.S. Reaper drone and fired on other aircraft entering Iranian airspace. Iran’s supreme leader said regional countries would no longer serve as shields for U.S. bases, hardening the political response even as diplomats kept the channel open.

Trump has framed any eventual agreement as more than a narrow truce, pressing for a broader regional deal that would bring more Arab states into the Abraham Accords. For now, the talks are continuing under fire, and each exchange around the Strait of Hormuz narrows the room for compromise while raising the risk to U.S. personnel and shipping alike.