The US military struck Iranian missile launch sites and boats on May 25, apparently while both countries were still sitting at the negotiating table in Doha.

US Central Command characterized the operation as “self-defense strikes” aimed at protecting vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian boats were allegedly attempting to lay mines in the waterway, which handles roughly 20% of global oil flows.

A fragile ceasefire gets more fragile

The strikes didn’t happen in a vacuum. They’re the latest escalation in a conflict that traces back to US and Israeli operations against Iranian nuclear facilities beginning in February 2026. Prior phases included US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025,…