US forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran overnight on May 25-26, marking the first major military action of this kind since the ceasefire and escalating tensions as diplomatic efforts to end the three-month-old war continued in Doha. The strikes targeted boats attempting to lay mines and missile launch sites, raising urgent questions about the protection of troops versus the pursuit of a negotiated settlement that could spare the region further violence.
Tim Hawkins, a US Central Command spokesman, said in a statement overnight, "US forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces." Arab News in Saudi Arabia reported that the strikes came as Iran's top negotiator and its foreign minister were in Doha for talks with Qatar's prime minister on a potential deal with the US to end the three-month-old war, after Washington and Tehran played down hopes for an imminent breakthrough.
Military Threats and Regional Security
Intelligence assessments indicated Iran now had access to 30 of 33 sites near the Strait of Hormuz, enabling missiles to be moved from bunkers onto mobile launchers, according to Gulf News. The outlet noted, "The latest confrontation highlighted what many military planners increasingly fear: That Iran still retains enough missile and naval capability to threaten US forces and commercial shipping despite nearly three months of US-Israeli attacks." Iranian leaders were reported to be hiding underground and communicating by courier, underscoring the fragility of security for both military personnel and civilians caught in the crossfire.
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said on Tuesday in a written statement carried by state television that regional countries would no longer be shields for US bases. He said, "What is certain in this regard is that the hands of time will not turn backward, and the nations and lands of the region will no longer serve as shields for American bases," in a statement for the Eid Al-Adha holiday.
Diplomatic Efforts and Regional Positions
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in India, where, according to Arab News, he said the US would give diplomacy every chance to succeed. He said there was "a pretty solid thing on the table in terms of their ability to open up the Strait (of Hormuz), and enter into a very real, significant, time-limited negotiation on the nuclear matter. Hopefully, we can pull it off." The commitment to diplomacy reflects the understanding that military solutions alone cannot address the underlying grievances and security concerns that fuel regional conflict.
Faisal J. Abbas, the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, said peace was possible with Israel but that the country "needs to embrace a two-state solution." He wrote that "the news about an imminent agreement between the US and Iran is certainly a welcome development. As mediators work to bridge the gaps between the American and Iranian positions, we need to remember that a negotiated outcome is by far the best possible solution for now, as it is the only one that gets us close to agreed-upon results." He noted that Qatar and Pakistan were working to bridge gaps towards a deal, and that Saudi Arabia was urging both the Americans and the Iranians to pursue positive engagement while highlighting the need for clear wording on security and freedom of navigation without new restrictions. Previous positions, he wrote, made it clear that Saudi Arabia wanted to see the Strait of Hormuz unconditionally.
Gulf States Navigate Pressure
The Gulf States were on edge on May 26 amid a renewed push by the US for a deal with Iran and US strikes in southern Iran. US President Donald Trump had been pressuring Saudi Arabia and other countries to join the Abraham Accords, but the countries appeared to be pushing back and saying they first wanted to see Israel work with the Palestinians. This position reflects a broader regional consensus that sustainable peace requires addressing Palestinian rights and statehood, not merely expanding security arrangements that bypass core issues of justice and self-determination.
The diplomatic advisor to the President of the United Arab Emirates, Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, said the UAE was capable of overcoming challenges with confidence and steadfastness. He wrote on X, "Wars may impose circumstantial challenges, but the UAE was built on solid foundations that make it more capable of cohesion and overcoming them. Conscious leadership, strong institutions, a developed and competitive economy, and authentic values based on solidarity, tolerance, and justice." He also wrote, "The UAE's success was not born of chance, but the fruit of a steadfast vision and sincere, continuous work over the years. The UAE is capable of overcoming challenges with confidence and steadfastness."
Why This Matters:
The resumption of US military strikes in Iran, even as diplomats work to negotiate an end to the three-month-old war, underscores the human cost of failed diplomacy and the urgent need for multilateral frameworks that prioritize civilian protection and regional stability. Intelligence assessments showing Iran's continued missile capability despite months of attacks suggest that military approaches alone cannot resolve the underlying security dilemmas facing the Gulf. The insistence by Saudi Arabia and other regional powers that any normalization with Israel must include progress on Palestinian statehood reflects a growing recognition that sustainable peace requires addressing structural injustices, not merely managing security threats. As commercial shipping remains vulnerable and troops on all sides face danger, the imperative for negotiated solutions that guarantee freedom of navigation, nuclear non-proliferation, and respect for sovereignty becomes clearer. The involvement of multiple mediators and the emphasis on clear, enforceable agreements point toward the necessity of strong international institutions capable of holding all parties accountable to their commitments.