U.S. strikes Iranian targets as Qatar peace talks struggle with ceasefire, nuclear and shipping disputes

The United States carried out what it described as defensive strikes on missile launch sites and mine-laying vessels in southern Iran on May 25, adding new pressure to already fragile negotiations aimed at ending the war.

Iran denounced the U.S. actions as a sign of “bad faith” and said they violated a seven-week ceasefire. The strikes came as talks continued in Qatar, where negotiators have been discussing Iran’s nuclear program, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a ceasefire in Lebanon.

The diplomatic picture remained unsettled. U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered conflicting statements on the state of the negotiations, while Iran said “contradictory statements” from Washington were hindering efforts to reach a deal.

The renewed tensions also rippled through energy markets. Oil prices rebounded amid uncertainty over global energy supplies tied to the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for international shipments.

The episode underscored the narrow space between military escalation and diplomacy: Washington framed the strikes as defensive, while Tehran cast them as a breach of trust at a moment when talks were still under way.