Middle East live: US carries out 'self-defence' strikes on Iran
Issued on: 26/05/2026 - 03:48Modified: 26/05/2026 - 04:52
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US forces have struck missile sites and boats allegedly laying naval mines in southern Iran on Monday, according to United States Central Command. The move threatens to further destabilise a fragile ceasefire as Iranian negotiators arrived in Doha for high-stakes talks aimed at ending the war. Follow our liveblog for all the latest updates.
26/05/2026 - 04:52- US military says it carried out 'self-defence' strikes in Iran, including on missile launch sites
- Rubio says Iran deal still possible within days despite US strikes
Rubio says Hormuz strait will reopen 'one way or the other'
Top US diplomat Marco Rubio insisted on Tuesday that the blockaded Strait of Hormuz would reopen "one way or the other", after fresh US strikes on Iran cast doubt on an accord to end the Mideast war.
"The straits have to be open. They're going to be open one way or the other, so they need to be open," Rubio told reporters in the Indian city of Jaipur, where he was making an official visit.
"What's happening there is unlawful, it's illegal, it's unsustainable for the world, it's unacceptable," he said.
26/05/2026 - 04:24Rubio says Iran deal still possible within days despite US strikes
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that a deal with Iran was still possible despite new American strikes that cast doubt on their fragile ceasefire.
"There were some talks going on in Qatar today, so we'll see if we can make progress. I think it's a lot of talking back and forth going on about specific language in the initial document, so it'll take a few days," Rubio told reporters in Jaipur during an official visit to India.
"The president's expressed his desire to make it. He's either going to make a good deal or no deal," he said.
26/05/2026 - 03:59Dollar wobbles as markets cling to hopes for Middle East peace deal
The dollar nursed losses on Tuesday on rising investor optimism of a deal being struck to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz and end the three-month-long Iran war, although fresh US attacks on Iranian targets weighed on sentiment. Despite low odds of an imminent deal, hopes of peace have pushed oil below $100 a barrel, eased pressure on emerging-market currencies, and boosted risk sentiment.
The euro held onto its gains to trade at $1.16365 on Tuesday, while the Japanese yen fetched 158.95 per US dollar. US markets were closed on Monday for a holiday. Against a basket of currencies, the dollar was at 99.031.
"Markets are right to price some optimism because even a path toward reopening Hormuz lowers the extreme tail risk around oil, inflation and global growth," said Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo in Singapore.
26/05/2026 - 03:49WTI crude price falls over 5% despite new US strikes on Iran
The price of the main US benchmark for oil fell more than five percent on Tuesday, despite US forces launching new strikes on Iran.
Around 12:30 am GMT, the price of West Texas Intermediate was down 5.46% at $91.33 a barrel.
However, North Sea Brent crude was up 1.6% at $97.68 a barrel.
Oil prices plunged below $100 on Monday as investors raised expectations of a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, following signs that Washington and Tehran were edging closer to a deal.
26/05/2026 - 03:31US military says it carried out 'self-defence' strikes in Iran, including on missile launch sites
US forces attacked missile sites in southern Iran and boats trying to lay mines on Monday, US Central Command said, as top Iranian negotiators arrived in Doha for talks to end the war.
"US forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces," Tim Hawkins, a US Central Command spokesman, said in a statement.
It gave no details of the attacks and said only that the targets included missile launch sites and boats trying to "emplace mines."
The strikes threatened an already fragile ceasefire that began April 8 as the United States and Iran struggle to reach an accord to end a war that has rattled the global economy with a severe disruption of energy flows.
Yesterday's key developments:
-
Vessels carrying Middle East oil, LNG exit Hormuz, head for Pakistan, China
- Israel military issues new evacuation warning to 10 Lebanon villages
- Iran says charging fees for 'navigational services' through Hormuz
- Mexico accepts to host Iran during the World Cup
- Israel's Netanyahu orders escalation of Lebanon offensive to 'crush' Hezbollah
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, Reuters and AP)
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