WASHINGTON, November 7 (Aalimi Nation) – US President Donald Trump on Friday confirmed that American forces carried out strikes on Iran's Qeshm island in the Strait of Hormuz, describing them as minor. His remarks came after Iranian state media reported missile strikes on the island.
What Trump said about the Qeshm strikes
Speaking to reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said the action targeted Iranian air defences. "We do minor strikes. They built a little bit of an anti-aircraft device and we knocked it out in about 15 minutes, maybe five," he said.
Asked whether the United States had hit the island again, he said: "I don't want to talk about it." He did not give further details on the targets or on any damage.
Iranian state media reported two missile strikes in the Suza area of Qeshm shortly before Trump spoke, and state television reported two explosions. The reports gave no official damage assessment, and no casualties have been confirmed by either side.
Competing claims
Iran's army said its air defence forces intercepted and destroyed an American MQ-9 drone over Qeshm. That claim has not been independently confirmed, and the United States has not commented on it.
US Central Command said the situation was "relatively calm" when asked about reports of explosions. An official of the command said it was aware of the reports and had no further comment.
Late on Friday, the command announced a reward of up to $20 million, with possible relocation, for information about Iran's nuclear programme, including its facilities, equipment and personnel. The reward is run through the State Department's Rewards for Justice programme.
Talks and mediation
Trump said several times on Friday that his administration was in contact with representatives from Tehran. "They want to make a deal," he said, and claimed there had been "a lot of progress", without offering details. Iranian officials have not confirmed that.
A US official said Trump also spoke by phone with Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, a key mediator, about ending the war. The emir's office said the two discussed the latest regional developments and diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions, and that the emir stressed relying on diplomatic means to settle disputes.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari, rejected reports that negotiations had failed on Saturday. He said such claims serve "only those seeking to prolong the war." Qatar's Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, said at Oxford University on Friday that mediation remains active and that the crisis "cannot be left unresolved."
Background
The strikes were the first since Trump's Republican Party suffered losses in the US midterm elections on Tuesday, November 3. Trump has blamed the results on the Iran war. Since the vote, he has alternated between warnings and suggestions that a resolution is near. On Thursday, he said the United States may have to "destroy" the rest of Iran.
Officials on both sides have not announced a date for any new round of talks.
