UNIPA News(Tehran)-26 May 2026: The United States military says it carried out “self-defence” strikes in southern Iran, targeting missile launch sites and boats allegedly involved in laying naval mines, even as President Donald Trump claimed negotiations regarding Iran were progressing positively.
According to a statement from US Central Command spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins, the strikes were aimed at protecting American troops from threats posed by Iranian forces. He added that the US military was still exercising restraint during the ongoing ceasefire period.
No further details were immediately released regarding the nature of the Iranian threats or how the strikes might affect the ongoing diplomatic negotiations.
Meanwhile, President Trump stated that any future agreement aimed at ending tensions with Iran should also include a broader expansion of the Abraham Accords. He urged countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan to join the US-backed normalization framework with Israel.
Trump said these nations should “immediately” sign onto the accords, arguing that after extensive diplomatic efforts by the United States, participation should become a key condition of regional cooperation.
The Abraham Accords, introduced during Trump’s first term, were designed to normalize diplomatic and economic relations between Israel and several Middle Eastern and North African countries. Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates became the first signatories in 2020.
However, Saudi Arabia has consistently maintained that normalization with Israel depends on establishing a clear path toward Palestinian statehood. Pakistan has also traditionally held a similar stance and does not currently maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.
Islamabad-based analyst Syed Mohammad Ali said Pakistan’s position on Israel remains unchanged despite Trump’s latest proposal.
Former Pakistani ambassador to the United States Masood Khan noted that introducing the Abraham Accords into the current negotiations adds a new dimension to the diplomatic process. He said it remains uncertain how practical the proposal would be for the countries mentioned by Trump.
Khan also emphasized that diplomatic efforts are still continuing and that Pakistan remains an important player in the broader regional discussions.
Trump further suggested that Iran itself could eventually become part of the Abraham Accords if a wider agreement is successfully reached.
In addition to the UAE and Bahrain, countries including Sudan, Morocco and more recently Kazakhstan have joined the accords, which Washington has promoted as a framework for enhancing regional cooperation, economic ties and security relations with Israel.
