Overview
- U.S. Central Command said American forces carried out “self‑defence” strikes on missile launch sites and boats laying mines in southern Iran on Monday to protect troops.
- Iranian and U.S. delegations are meeting in Doha to draft a framework to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and to set a sequencing process for later nuclear negotiations over Iran’s highly enriched uranium.
- Diplomats have discussed a reported 30‑day plan that would clear mines and restore transit about a month after a formal accord, though no agreement has been signed and draft language remains contested.
- Senior U.S. officials signalled limited optimism but firmness: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a deal “could take a few days,” while President Trump publicly demanded Iran hand over or destroy its enriched uranium.
- Markets reacted quickly to the strikes and diplomatic uncertainty with Brent crude rising and reports that U.S. authorities froze roughly $344 million in Iranian‑linked digital assets adding economic pressure to military and diplomatic levers.