US-Iran Strikes Resume Near Hormuz Amid Ceasefire Talks

President Donald Trump stated Monday that Iran seeks a deal to conclude the three-month conflict, even as fresh exchanges of strikes occurred over the weekend and negotiations remain stalled on key issues including the status of the Strait of Hormuz.

The US military's Central Command reported conducting strikes on Iranian radar and drone sites in Goruk and on Qeshm Island, describing them as self-defense measures after Iran shot down a US MQ-1 drone operating over international waters. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded by claiming it targeted a US airbase used in prior attacks on Iranian communications infrastructure. Kuwaiti defenses intercepted missiles and drones aimed at a US facility there, with sirens sounding across the country. Kuwait's foreign ministry condemned the actions as threats to regional stability.

Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran "really wants to make a deal, and it will be a good one for the USA and those that are with us." He criticized domestic political commentary, saying it complicates negotiations and urging critics to "sit back and relax" because outcomes would resolve favorably. In a separate Fox News interview, Trump described Iranian negotiators as "crafty" and indicated no rush to conclude terms, while noting that Iran's regular military had largely been left intact to avoid broader collapse.

These comments contrast with earlier administration assertions that US operations had severely degraded Iranian forces. The ongoing exchanges come amid a fragile ceasefire in place since early April, during which both sides have periodically targeted military assets. Iran has maintained restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, a passage handling roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments, contributing to elevated energy prices worldwide.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed continued messaging with US counterparts on ending hostilities, though details on Iran's nuclear enrichment limits and related Israeli operations in Lebanon remain unresolved. Israel has advanced its campaign against Hezbollah positions, capturing sites such as Beaufort Castle. Production has resumed at some Iranian gas facilities damaged earlier in the conflict, but broader economic disruptions persist.

The pattern of limited strikes alongside diplomatic overtures illustrates the challenges of containing escalation once military commitments begin. Historical records show such engagements often extend beyond initial projections, imposing sustained costs on energy markets and taxpayer resources without clear endpoints. Trump has indicated a preference for terms that reopen shipping lanes and secure allied interests, yet the involvement of multiple actors including proxies complicates any swift resolution.

Further talks are expected in coming days, with both governments exchanging positions through intermediaries.