WASHINGTON/DUBAI, May 28 — The United States carried out fresh strikes on Iranian military targets near the Strait of Hormuz after President Donald Trump denied reports that Washington and Tehran had reached a deal to restore shipping through the strategic waterway, U.S. officials and regional media said.
U.S. officials said the strikes targeted Iranian military sites linked to threats against American forces and commercial shipping. The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials, reported that American aircraft struck a drone-control station near Bandar Abbas after Iranian drones were launched toward U.S. and commercial vessels in the strait.
No casualties were immediately reported. Iranian state media said explosions were heard near Bandar Abbas and that air defenses were briefly activated.
The strikes came hours after Trump dismissed Iranian state media reports that a draft agreement had been reached to ease tensions, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and scale back U.S. military activity near Iran.
“There is no deal,” Trump told reporters, according to U.S. media reports. He said the strait would not be controlled by Iran, Oman or any other country, and warned that Washington would act if access to the waterway remained restricted.
The Strait of Hormuz, between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most important oil transit routes. Disruption there has raised concerns over energy supplies and shipping costs since the conflict escalated earlier this year.
Iranian state media reported that a draft framework under discussion included the withdrawal of U.S. forces from areas near Iran and the lifting of a naval blockade. The White House rejected that account, calling reports of an agreement inaccurate.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration remained open to diplomacy but would not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons or threaten international shipping, according to U.S. media reports.
Iranian officials have said Tehran will not give up what it calls its right to enrich uranium and has accused Washington of using military pressure to force concessions. Iran has not issued a full official response to the latest strikes.
Oil prices, which had eased on speculation that a deal was close, rebounded after reports of the U.S. action.
The latest exchange underscored the fragility of talks aimed at ending the three-month conflict and restoring commercial passage through the strait.
Diplomats from regional mediators are expected to continue efforts to revive negotiations, while Washington waits for Iran’s formal response to the latest U.S. position.
