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U.S. Central Command announced Monday that American forces carried out another round of strikes against Iranian military targets, saying the operation was intended to further reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the region.
In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said the five-hour mission targeted military sites in Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa and Bandar Abbas.
“During the five-hour mission, U.S. forces successfully struck military targets across Iran including Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa, and Bandar Abbas to further degrade Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping,” CENTCOM said.
The military said U.S. forces used precision-guided munitions to strike Iranian coastal defense systems, missile and drone launch sites, and maritime military capabilities.
“CENTCOM forces employed precision munitions against Iranian coastal defense systems, missile and drone sites, and maritime capabilities,” the command said.
Speaking to reporters Monday, President Donald Trump defended the continued military campaign, arguing that U.S. forces have significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities and prevented the country from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“We were in Vietnam for 19 years. We’re here for four months, so I think we’ve done a lot,” the president said when asked whether the strikes had become “the new normal.”
President Trump said U.S. operations have “knocked out” Iran’s navy, air force, missile capabilities and drone production.
“If we didn’t do it, they would have had a nuclear weapon. If they had a nuclear weapon, Israel would no longer be with us. The Middle East probably would no longer be with us,” he said.
Trump further argued that the United States should be compensated for protecting international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
“I want to be reimbursed because we’re protecting a very rich portion of the world,” he said.
He also accused Iran of delaying negotiations for decades and said previous administrations had failed to resolve the conflict.
“This is what they’ve done for 47 years,” he said. “The difference is nobody negotiated like I do. And this should have been done by Bush and Obama and Biden and people before them.”
According to the Pentagon, more than 50,000 U.S. service members remain deployed across the Middle East as military operations continue.