United States and Iran Exchange Air Strikes Near Strait of Hormuz Amid Stalled Ceasefire Talks
Air strikes resumed between the United States and Iran over the weekend, with both sides claiming to have hit military targets near the Strait of Hormuz, which remains blocked despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations. The United States Central Command (Centcom) said it conducted "self-defense strikes on Iranian radar and command and control sites for drones in Goruk, Iran and Qeshm Island this weekend," while Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported it had retaliated by targeting an air base used by U.S. forces, without specifying the location. Earlier, U.S. media reported that President Donald Trump had requested "edits" to the latest terms of a proposal that could lead to a peace deal, and there was no sign of a breakthrough.
Details of the Strikes and Retaliation
The United States said its strikes on Saturday and Sunday were in response to "aggressive Iranian actions that included the shootdown of a U.S. MQ-1 drone that was operating over international waters." In a post on X, Centcom stated that U.S. fighters struck the Iranian military's air defenses, a ground control station, and two drones that it said "posed a clear threat to ships transiting through regional waters." The military confirmed that no American servicemen or women were injured in the attacks.
The IRGC said it struck the airbase that the United States had used to carry out the strikes on its communications tower on Sirri Island in the Gulf, approximately 40 miles (65 kilometers) from Iran's southern coastline. According to IRGC remarks reported by Iran's semi-official Fars news agency, Iran's military added that its response would be "completely different" if U.S. aggression was "repeated."
Regional Impact and Kuwait's Response
Kuwait's military reported that it was "confronting hostile missile and drone attacks" using its air-defense systems, but did not specify where the interceptions were occurring. This follows Tehran's targeting of an air base in Kuwait last week in response to earlier U.S. air strikes, which the United States said were conducted to prevent Iranian boats and missile strikes from laying mines around the shipping channel.
Status of Ceasefire Negotiations
While a ceasefire came into effect on April 8, President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested that the United States and Iran were close to a permanent deal and that negotiations were progressing, but so far no formal agreement has been reached. The latest iteration of the deal included a 60-day cessation of violence, a call to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and a framework to reopen negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, according to the BBC's U.S. partner CBS News. Approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments usually pass through the Gulf shipping channel, with the de facto trade embargo placing upward pressure on fuel prices around the world.
On Sunday, Trump requested changes to an existing deal, which Iran dismissed as "speculation." No deal was announced after a meeting where Trump was set to make a "final determination" on Iran.
Context
This escalation mirrors a pattern of tit-for-tat strikes seen in previous confrontations, such as the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in January 2020 and Iran's subsequent missile attack on U.S. forces in Iraq. More recently, in March 2025, the United States launched strikes on Iranian missile sites and boats, with Iran responding by targeting an American base, further illustrating the cycle of retaliation that has characterized the conflict.