Iran latest: US launches 'self-defense strikes' in southern Iran as peace negotiations continue

A potential peace plan between the United States and Iran is still in the works as Americans observe Memorial Day Monday.

The discussions between the two nations are "much more professional and productive," President Donald Trump stated Sunday in an update on the negotiations.

Over the weekend, the president said a deal was nearly complete and going through the finalization process. Trump added in his latest post that U.S. negotiators were told not to "rush into a deal."

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) patrols the Arabian Sea enforcing a maritime blockade against ships entering or exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas, May 18, 2026. Rafael Peralta is deployed to the U.S. 5t

Expand

Big picture view:

Few details about the proposal have been released publicly. When discussing the state of negotiations, Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered assurances that the U.S. has secured one of Trump’s main goals of "a world that no longer has to be in fear or worry about an Iranian nuclear weapon."

Two regional officials said that Iran has agreed to give up its stockpile of highly-enriched uranium. One official, who has direct knowledge of the talks, said how Iran will surrender is subject to further negotiations over the next 60 days.

Here are the latest updates: 

US launches strikes in southern Iran 

7:21 p.m. ET: The United States launched attacks on multiple targets in southern Iran on Monday, striking missile launch sites and Iranian boats, a spokesperson for the U.S. Central Command confirmed.

"U.S. forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces," Capt. Tim Hawkins told FOX News Jennifer Griffin.

The strikes happened after two Iranian Revolutionary Guard boats were spotted laying mines and a surface-to-air missile site locked onto American warplanes, the U.S. military told Griffin. 

The military stated that the incident was not intended to break the ceasefire and the attacks are over at this time.

Trump: Nations should join Abraham Accords in Iran deal

4:19 p.m. ET: President Donald Trump wants multiple Middle Eastern nations to join the U.S.-brokered agreement from his first term that aimed to normalize relations between Israel and many of its neighbors as part of the agreement to end the Iran war. 

In a post, Trump explained he feels like a mandatory condition for a peace deal would be that several of the nations the president has consulted during negotiations sign onto the Abraham Accords. He said optimally they all would join but "it may be possible that one or two have a reason for not doing so and that will be accepted."

Trump specifically called out Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey as nations who should join. He also cited Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, noting they are already members.

Rubio says peace deal still close

3:55 p.m. ET: Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned people Monday not to "read too much" into the fact a peace deal has not been completed yet, despite President Donald Trump stating on Saturday that an agreement was mostly complete and only needed to be finalized.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to journalists before boarding his plane at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on May 25, 2026. (Photo by Julia Demaree Nikhinson / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking to reporters during his trip to India, Rubio echoed Trump's statement about not wanting to rush into a deal and explained that getting a response from Iranian leadership can take time.

"I mean, when you get down on some of these things, you’ve got to hear back, and it takes the Iranians – takes them a little while longer to get back," he said.  "So like I – look, the President’s not going to make a bad deal. He’s just not."

While the particulars of the peace proposal currently being discussed are not known, Rubio appeared to include clues about what may be in it. Unsurprisingly, he pointed out that the deal includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz. 

However, he also said that there would be "a very real, significant time limit of negotiation on the nuclear matter, and hopefully we can pull it off." That corresponds with previous comments from an individual familiar with the talks who said the accord may include a 60-day window to negotiate how Iran would surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. 

Rubio stated that the Trump administration hoped to have something to report Sunday night, and may possibly have more information on Monday.

Global shares gain and oil prices fall

7:00 a.m. ET: Global shares mostly rose Monday and oil prices sank more than $4 after Trump said talks on ending the war with Iran were progressing.