Tensions between the United States and Iran have risen sharply after Tehran warned of retaliation over new US military strikes targeting missile launch sites and vessels accused of laying naval mines near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran condemned the strikes as a “gross violation” of the ceasefire framework that has been taking shape in recent weeks, and said Washington would be responsible for the consequences of what it called “aggressive and unjustified actions” in the Hormozgan region.

According to US Central Command, American forces carried out what it described as “self-defence strikes” against missile batteries and boats allegedly posing threats to US aircraft and commercial shipping routes in southern Iran.

Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson, said the military remained committed to protecting US forces while continuing to support ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Iranian officials said the strikes marked the first direct US attacks inside Iran since a fragile ceasefire process began earlier this month.

They also alleged that US aircraft and drones had entered Iranian airspace near Bandar Abbas and the Strait of Hormuz, claims denied by Washington.

Explosions were reported in southern coastal areas following the strikes. Iranian state-linked media said members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were among the casualties, though no official death toll has been released.

The Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route that carries around one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies, remains central to rising concerns over energy market stability.

The US said its strikes targeted vessels suspected of laying mines in shipping lanes and missile systems seen as a threat to military and commercial traffic in the region.

The military action comes as US and Iranian diplomats continue indirect talks in Qatar aimed at reaching a broader ceasefire agreement and reopening shipping routes through the Strait.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations were ongoing toward a possible memorandum of understanding, although significant differences remain over Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief and regional security arrangements.

President Donald Trump said talks were “proceeding nicely”, even as the latest escalation raised doubts over diplomatic progress.

Analysts warn that even limited retaliation could widen the conflict across the region, involving allied armed groups and disrupting global shipping routes.

Iran’s leadership has issued increasingly strong warnings, with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei saying the United States would “no longer have a haven in the region” if attacks continue.

Diplomatic efforts and military actions are continuing in parallel, leaving the region in a fragile balance between negotiation and escalation.