U.S. Central Command said it “conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran” on Monday as peace negotiations between the country and the U.S. drag on. Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, said in a statement that the strikes were carried out “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.” “Targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines,” Hawkins said. “U.S. Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire.” The announcement came after American officials, including President Donald Trump, said earlier in the weekend that negotiations were progressing well. Trump said in a social media post earlier Monday that Iran’s enriched uranium “will either be immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed” or “destroyed in place” in Iran or at another acceptable location, underlining an outstanding sticking point in negotiations with Iran. Trump added that the Atomic Energy Commission “or its equivalent” should play a role in overseeing the process. |