The U.S. Is Striking Iran and Its Allies—While Still Trying to Negotiate

The United States military has launched a series of precise bombing attacks targeting Iran's nuclear facilities and armed groups backed by Iran across the Middle East. As of early June 2026, these strikes are happening in multiple countries at the same time. At the same time, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in late May that the U.S. and Iran might be close to a deal—one that could be finalized within "a few days."

This is unusual: the U.S. is bombing while also negotiating. This dual approach shows a deliberate strategy: keep military pressure high while leaving room for a peace deal. Whether this strategy holds together is the key question for every country watching the region right now.

What the U.S. Has Hit and Where

Over recent weeks, the U.S. has targeted three different types of military locations.

In Iraq, the U.S. military struck five weapons storage sites belonging to Kata'ib Hezbollah, an armed group linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. This group has long been used by Iran to attack American forces in Iraq. The U.S. chose these five sites because they stored and prepared the rocket systems that were used in an attack on U.S. forces.

In Yemen, the U.S. and its allies hit various military targets used by the Houthis, including an underground storage bunker. The Houthis (officially called Ansar Allah) have been attacking ships and targeting U.S. forces in the Red Sea. Hitting an underground bunker—something hard to find and destroy—shows the U.S. is trying to seriously weaken their ability to operate, not just damage what's visible on the surface.

Most importantly, the U.S. military hit a major command center used by Iran-backed forces. Destroying this center is meant to break up the link between Iran's leaders and the armed groups they control—not just destroy equipment.

All of these strikes, combined with attacks on Iran's nuclear sites, are part of one coordinated pressure campaign. They are not separate, random attacks.

Iran's Nuclear Program

The attacks on Iran's nuclear sites are the most important part of this campaign. Iran's nuclear program uses several facilities: uranium enrichment plants at Natanz and Fordow, weapons research centers at Parchin, and command buildings. Even if the U.S. bombs do not completely destroy the deep, buried parts of these facilities, they still cause real damage. They slow down the program, destroy equipment that takes years to replace, and force Iran to rebuild under international watch. Most importantly, they send a message: the U.S. is willing to directly attack inside Iran itself, not just fight through armed groups.

For years, Iran's leaders assumed the U.S. would fight proxy groups but would not directly bomb Iranian territory. That assumption has now been tested and broken.

Rubio's Push for a Deal

Secretary of State Rubio said in late May 2026 that a deal to stop the conflict could come within days. This statement matters, but it was carefully worded. Rubio did not say a deal was certain or about to happen—only that talks could move fast. Importantly, he made this statement right after the U.S. launched new strikes. This is a classic negotiation tactic: use the threat of force, and the actual use of force, to push the other side to make a deal.

This pattern has happened before. In 1999, NATO countries bombed Serbia while still negotiating peace. The continued bombing was meant to pressure Serbia to agree to terms faster. The idea is simple: if you stop bombing before a deal is signed, you lose your main bargaining chip. Whether Iran sees this the same way Serbia eventually did is still unclear.

The Proxy Network Under Pressure

The U.S. is hitting both Kata'ib Hezbollah in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen at the same time. This strategy reflects an important truth: Iran's power does not depend only on its own territory. Iran has built a network of armed groups spread across the Middle East, Iraq, and the Arabian Peninsula. Hitting these groups while also bombing Iran itself serves two purposes: it stops these groups from attacking back while talks happen, and it shows the groups themselves that staying loyal to Iran comes with a cost.

For Iraq's government, this creates a difficult problem. Iraq has always tried to stay balanced between the U.S. and Iran, cooperating with both. But when the U.S. bombs targets inside Iraq—even non-government groups—it puts political pressure on the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani. The problem is worse because one of these groups, Kata'ib Hezbollah, technically operates under Iraqi government protection as part of the Popular Mobilization Forces. This makes a clean political solution harder to reach.

What Happens Next

Three things will determine whether this strategy works.

The first is how much damage Iran's nuclear program actually suffered. If the bombing destroyed critical equipment, the program will be set back significantly. If important parts survived, the setback will be smaller.

The second is whether the negotiations stay alive. Rubio said a deal could come in days back in late May, but June arrived without an agreement. The longer the bombing continues without a deal, the harder it becomes to negotiate. People on both sides get angrier and less willing to compromise.

The third is whether the U.S. keeps the support of its allies. The U.S. included partner countries in the Yemen strikes, which helps spread political support for the campaign and shares the burden of protecting the Red Sea. But European allies are already stretched thin managing NATO, helping Ukraine, and worrying about what a blocked strait could do to their own economies. They may not stay involved forever.

The military strikes are real and documented. What they will actually achieve, however, is still unknown.