There is talk of peace, but missiles are raining down. The conflict in Iran is experiencing yet another complicated moment: on the one hand there is the ambition of a ceasefire – given as something done by Trump on Saturday, but not achieved in practice – on the other hand the United States has attacked missile sites in southern Iran and Pasdaran boats attempting to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz. An action that the US defines as “self-defense” and is certainly not just a linguistic choice, but has a clear meaning. And for which Irna threatens “much more severe responses”. We understand what is happening.
The US attacks “but it is self-defense”
“US forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” wrote Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for the US Central Command, in a statement that provided no details on the strikes, saying only that the targets included missile launch sites and vessels attempting to “lay mines.”
“US Central Command continues to defend our forces using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” added Captain Tim Hawkins, spokesman for the Command.
According to Al Arabiya, boats south of Larak Island were targeted and the attacks caused casualties. “We just discovered that it is possible to kill 80,000 people, including more than 10,000 children, displace 2 million people and call it self-defense,” read a post X from Iranian state TV IRIB.
We just found out that it is possible to kill 80,000 people, including more than 10,000 children, displaced 2 million people and call it self-defense! https://t.co/0zhgBuvuAR
— IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) (@iribnews_irib) May 26, 2026
What value does this attack have? It’s difficult not to read an ultimatum message for Tehran: either we speed up the agreement or we attack. In short, the step from self-defense to a large-scale military offensive seems to be very short. Certainly the attack is further demonstration that the situation is changing rapidly and that the distances between Iran and the USA are still enormous.
Abolfazl Shekarchi, a high-level spokesman for the Iranian Armed Forces, said that any new aggression against Iran will receive a “much more severe” response that will extend beyond the region’s borders, according to Al-Jazeera. “If we are attacked, our attacks will be harder, more intense and more powerful. Our response will go beyond the region – the military’s statement, as reported on
The Spokesperson for Iran’s Armed Forces, Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, said that if any attacks happen, the response will be more crushing. pic.twitter.com/M6MSJECHjF
— Tehran Times (@TehranTimes79) May 26, 2026
The final destination of enriched uranium
One issue remains enriched uranium in Iranian hands. Tehran, according to rumors, has accepted the transfer of the supplies to China. But Trump opposes it. “The enriched uranium will be immediately delivered to the United States to be brought home and destroyed or, preferably, in cooperation and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed on site or, at another acceptable location, with the Atomic Energy Commission, or its equivalent, witnessing this process and event.” writes on Truth.