US military action near the Strait of Hormuz was followed by fresh remarks from Donald Trump, who said Tehran would not be allowed to emerge as a nuclear-armed state.
US-Iran standoff escalates: CENTCOM responds to 'Iranian aggression', destroys their air defenses after MQ-1 shootdown. (Pic: US CENTCOM)
The United States said it intercepted four Iranian attack drones headed towards the Strait of Hormuz and later struck Iranian radar installations along the country’s southern coast, as President Donald Trump declared that Tehran’s nuclear ambitions would be stopped “one way or the other”.
The developments mark another sharp escalation in tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route through which a significant share of the world’s oil trade passes. While the US military described its actions as defensive, Trump’s remarks suggested Washington believes its campaign against Iran has entered a decisive phase.
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According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones after determining that they posed an immediate threat to maritime traffic in the region.
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“Moments ago, CENTCOM forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones that were launched toward the Strait of Hormuz,” the military command said in a statement on Friday.
CENTCOM said US forces subsequently targeted Iranian coastal surveillance radar facilities located in Goruk and on Qeshm Island to prevent further threats.
“US forces subsequently struck Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites in Goruk and on Qeshm Island to defend against further attacks,” the statement said.
Moments ago, CENTCOM forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones that were launched toward the Strait of Hormuz. The attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic. U.S. forces subsequently struck Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites in Goruk and…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 5, 2026
The military did not disclose details regarding casualties, damage assessments or the weapons used in the operation. It also did not indicate whether any commercial vessel had been directly targeted.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and is regarded as one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.
The US maintains a significant military presence across the Middle East and routinely patrols sea lanes used by international commercial shipping. CENTCOM said American forces remain prepared to respond to any future threats.
“American forces remain vigilant and postured to respond to unjustified Iranian aggression in self-defence,” the statement added.
Iran did not immediately respond to the US announcement.
In the meantime, Trump said the confrontation with Iran was approaching a conclusion and reiterated that Tehran would not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.
Speaking at an agriculture roundtable in Wisconsin, Trump said the US had already achieved much of its objective.
“We had to extinguish a nuclear weapon. We weren’t going to let that happen,” Trump said.
“We’ve largely finished that, you’ll see, and one way or the other, it’s finished.”
He added that the issue could be resolved diplomatically or through a more difficult path.
“It’s either finished with a piece of paper or finished a more difficult way,” he said.
Trump did not provide details of any ongoing negotiations but suggested developments would become clearer soon.
The US President also linked the Iran situation to energy markets, telling farmers that lower oil and energy prices would eventually reduce costs.
In a separate interview with NBC News‘ Meet the Press, Trump claimed Iran’s missile capability had been significantly reduced following recent hostilities.
“I would say, percentage-wise, maybe 21, 22 per cent of their missiles,” Trump said, adding that Iran’s arsenal was no longer what it had been before the conflict.
However, according to a New York Times report cited by ANI, intelligence briefings to US lawmakers suggested Iran had restored operational control over 30 of its 33 missile facilities near the Strait of Hormuz and retained roughly 70 per cent of its pre-conflict missile inventory.
Trump nevertheless expressed confidence that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz would be resolved quickly.
“It shouldn’t take long. One way or the other, it’s going to get done,” he said.
The latest developments come amid continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran, with the future of Iran’s nuclear programme and regional security remaining at the centre of the confrontation.
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