Washington, June 1 (SANA) U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Monday it had conducted “defensive strikes” against Iranian radar installations and drone command-and-control facilities over the weekend, following what it described as hostile actions by Iran.
In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said the strikes targeted sites in Goruk and on Qeshm Island on Saturday and Sunday. The U.S. military said the operation was launched in response to the downing of an MQ-1 drone that it said had been flying over international waters.
CENTCOM said U.S. fighter aircraft subsequently destroyed Iranian air defense systems, a ground control station and two attack drones that it said posed a threat to maritime traffic in the area.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran and follows U.S. measures aimed at restricting maritime access to Iranian ports.
On Sunday, CENTCOM said it had intercepted a vessel bound for an Iranian port after it allegedly ignored repeated warnings. The command added that more than 115 commercial ships had been rerouted since the maritime restrictions were imposed.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Washington was close to reaching what he described as a “very good” agreement with Iran over its nuclear program and maritime security, while warning that military action remained an option if diplomacy failed.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Trump said he preferred a diplomatic solution but suggested the United States could resort to force if negotiations did not produce terms acceptable to Washington.
“We are close to a very good deal with Iran,” Trump said. “If it’s not fair to us, we’ll go back to the military option.”
Trump said any agreement would include the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping without transit fees. He also reiterated that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remained a central U.S. objective.
Trump further claimed that Iran had already agreed not to develop or acquire nuclear weapons. Iranian officials have not publicly confirmed such an agreement.
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