REPORTED U.S. STRIKES PUT HORMUZ MINES BACK AT CENTER OF IRAN TALKS

Reports of new U.S. “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran have put the Strait of Hormuz mine issue back at the center of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks. The Guardian reported Monday that U.S. forces launched strikes on Iranian missile sites and boats near the strait, citing alleged Iranian mine-laying activity and attacks on U.S. aircraft. The Times also reported that U.S. “defensive” airstrikes targeted missile launch sites and vessels allegedly laying mines near the waterway.

The reports have not yet been matched by a fresh May 25 statement found on U.S. Central Command’s public press-release page. CENTCOM’s most recent directly relevant release remains its May 7 statement, which said U.S. forces intercepted Iranian missiles, drones, and small boats during the transit of three U.S. destroyers through the Strait of Hormuz, then carried out self-defense strikes. That earlier statement confirms the language and pattern of U.S. military activity in the area, but not the reported May 25 strikes.

The mine issue is no longer only a military claim. Reuters reported Monday, citing Nikkei and a Middle East diplomatic source, that Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz about 30 days after signing a peace agreement with the United States. Under that reported proposal, Iran would begin clearing naval mines during the 30-day post-agreement window, after which ships from all countries would be able to navigate the strait freely and safely.

That proposal suggests mine-clearing is one of the practical barriers between a political agreement and normal shipping. The same Reuters report said Iran would stop collecting transit fees through the strait, and that the ceasefire agreed in early April would be extended for 60 days while talks on Iran’s nuclear program continue.

Iran has not presented the talks as complete. The Guardian reported that Iranian officials denied a deal was imminent, while acknowledging progress on navigation arrangements and broader ceasefire terms. Tehran has also argued that fees connected to navigation services are not tolls, and that Iran and Oman should manage the strait.

The Strait of Hormuz remains central because it is one of the world’s most important energy routes. A Reuters report from last week said Iran had largely shut the strait to most non-Iranian shipping after U.S.-Israeli attacks began on February 28, causing major disruption to global energy supplies, while the United States responded with its own blockade of Iranian ports.

There are some signs of limited movement. The Financial Times reported Monday that two LNG tankers had passed through the Strait of Hormuz, with a crude oil tanker also crossing over the weekend. The report framed the movement as a possible sign of easing traffic pressure while talks continue, not a confirmed return to normal maritime conditions.

The central uncertainty is whether the reported strikes are a contained military response inside the ceasefire framework or a sign that the ceasefire is weakening. The Guardian reported that officials continued to describe the ceasefire as technically intact even after the reported U.S. strikes. That creates a narrow and unstable situation: negotiations are moving forward, but military activity around Hormuz has not stopped.

For shippers, energy markets, and Gulf governments, the mine-clearing timeline may matter as much as the diplomatic announcement itself. A signed agreement would not immediately reopen the strait if mines, inspections, security guarantees, or navigation rules still need to be resolved. Until a primary U.S. statement, Iranian confirmation, or wire-service verification clarifies Monday’s reported strikes, the safest framing is that military and diplomatic tracks are moving at the same time — and in direct tension with each other.

Fact-check date: 25 May 2026
Sources: Reuters, Nikkei, The Guardian, The Times, U.S. Central Command, Financial Times

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