The missile launch came just days after President Donald Trump announced that he had halted a nearly two-week bombing campaign against Iran in order to pursue another round of negotiations. The pause in military operations was intended to create an opportunity for diplomacy, even as U.S. forces remained on heightened alert across the region.
In an official statement released Tuesday evening, CENTCOM detailed the attack and the military’s response.
“At 5:45 p.m. ET today, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempted surprise attack on U.S. forces based in the Middle East. All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted. U.S. forces remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness,” US Central Command announced in a statement.
The missile strike follows an intense period of U.S. military operations. According to CENTCOM, American forces recently completed a 13th consecutive night of attacks targeting Iranian military capabilities in and around the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Those operations were part of a broader campaign that resumed earlier this month after hostilities escalated between the two countries.
CENTCOM also released video footage showing aircraft conducting precision strikes during the latest phase of the operation. The military has said the campaign focused on degrading Iranian military infrastructure and limiting Tehran’s ability to threaten U.S. forces and international shipping routes in the region.
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Despite the latest exchange, President Trump indicated this week that his administration remains willing to continue diplomatic discussions with Iran. Speaking on Monday, the president said negotiations were ongoing but warned that the opportunity for a peaceful resolution would not remain open indefinitely.
“We are in very deep talks with Iran. If they don’t work out, we will go back to very strong military action.”
Trump also emphasized that any diplomatic breakthrough would need to happen quickly, suggesting the administration is prepared to shift back to military action if negotiations fail to produce results.
The president said the attempt at diplomacy will have “not much time.” He added, “Either it goes fast or not at all.”
The latest missile launch underscores the fragile state of relations between the United States and Iran. While diplomatic channels remain open for now, military forces on both sides continue to operate at a high level of readiness. Tuesday’s interception prevented what could have become a far more serious confrontation, but the exchange highlights how quickly tensions can escalate despite ongoing negotiations.
Defense officials have not announced whether the United States will respond militarily to the missile launch. However, CENTCOM emphasized that American forces remain fully prepared to defend themselves and their allies against future attacks as developments continue to unfold across the Middle East.
