The US says it targeted Iranian "missile and drone launch sites; command and control locations; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance nodes".

The "self-defense strikes" followed attacks on three American naval vessels, though none of the warships was hit, U.S. Central Command said in a statement.

The U.S. conducted strikes against at least two locations in Iran Thursday, a U.S. official said.

The U.S. and Iran on Thursday had begun to consider a prospective agreement that could lead to a long-term ceasefire.

There appeared to be movement on Thursday as the U.S. remains optimistic about a potential peace deal with Iran.

The U.S. said it was responding to Iranian forces attacking Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite the attack, the US is still adhering to the monthlong cease-fire with Iran and has not declared it broken — with Trump downplaying the US response as “just a love tap” in a brief phone interview with ABC News. “The ceasefire is going. It’s in effect,” Trump said.