Trump says U.S. carried out limited strikes on Iran as talks continue

President Trump said the U.S. military on Friday carried out new limited strikes on Iran, targeting an Iranian air defense system. Trump described the military action as “minor,” telling reporters, “They knocked out — they built a little bit of an antiaircraft device, and we knocked it out in about 15 minutes, maybe five.”

Iranian state media reported the sound of two explosions in the Suza area of Qeshm Island, which is in the crucial waterway for oil shipments. The U.S. military also reported carrying out what it described as defensive strikes on Monday, when explosions were heard on the islands of Qeshm and Hengam in the Strait of Hormuz and in the nearby mainland area of Bandar Abbas.

Strikes and election context

Friday’s strikes are the first since Trump’s Republican Party was dealt a stunning repudiation in Tuesday’s midterm elections, losing both chambers of Congress. The electoral setback was stoked in part by voter dissatisfaction with the Iran war and elevated fuel prices, a byproduct of the regional conflict that’s affected nearly every sector of the global economy. In the days since, Trump has vacillated between threatening to “destroy” Iran and suggesting a resolution to the war is near.

Diplomatic proposals

Earlier Friday, two Middle East government officials said Iran was reviewing proposals presented by chief mediator Qatar aimed at addressing differences with the United States about Tehran’s nuclear program. One of the officials stressed that Iranians remain unwilling to engage in negotiations with the Trump administration over their atomic activities until the U.S. agrees to several core conditions.

The potential bridge deal discussed by mediators and Iran would implement trust-building measures over two days. These include lifting the U.S. blockade and releasing some of the billions of dollars in Iranian frozen funds. In return, Tehran would allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors at its sites bombed by the U.S. and Israel. On the second day, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz in line with a modified agreement that Iran and Oman have reached on the waterway but that has not been approved by the United States.

Among Iran’s core demands before engaging in nuclear talks are ending the U.S. blockade on Iran’s ports, lifting sanctions, unfreezing its assets, issuing compensation for war damage and ending hostilities throughout the region, including Israeli operations in Lebanon.

Why it matters

The strikes and diplomatic activity come as the U.S. enforces a naval blockade on Iran for months in and around the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command announced late Friday that the United States was offering “a reward of up to $20 million and possible relocation for information about Iran’s nuclear program, including its facilities, equipment, and associated personnel, such as those in the scientific community, or the movement of any of the above."

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Sources

• latimes.com: U.S. carries out limited strikes on Iran amid renewed diplomatic efforts - Los Angeles Times
• theguardian.com: US carries out another round of ‘minor’ strikes on Iran, Trump says | US-Israel war on Iran | The Guardian
• thehindu.com: U.S. military carries out fresh targeted strikes on Iran as Tehran weighs mediator's proposals - The Hindu
• gulfnews.com: US Launches Targeted Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Talks and Rising Tensions

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.