Mike Baker

It's Tuesday, the 26th of May.

Welcome to the PDB Afternoon Bulletin.

I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage.

All right, let's get briefed.

First up, despite recent White House optimism over a potential peace deal or a ceasefire extension with Iran, U.S.

and Iranian forces are exchanging fire again in the Strait of Hormuz after American strikes on Iranian mine-laying boats and missile sites overnight.

Later in the show, Russia is ramping up their threats against Kiev, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reportedly warning U.S.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio to evacuate American citizens ahead of what Moscow is calling systematic strikes on the Ukrainian capital.

But first, today's afternoon spotlight.

While the White House and U.S.

officials have recently been expressing optimism over a possible deal with Iran, the reality on the ground tells a different story.

American and Iranian forces are once again exchanging fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

According to U.S.

Central Command, American forces carried out what officials are calling quote, self-defense strikes overnight after Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessels were reportedly caught attempting to lay naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S.

officials say American forces sank two IRGC boats involved in the operation.

But the confrontation didn't end there.

According to multiple U.S.

officials, Iranian forces then began firing surface-to-air missiles at American aircraft operating in the area.

In response, the U.S.