Photo: EPA
The United States struck Iran’s Qeshm Island on Monday, US officials said, in the latest of a series of limited attacks Washington has secretly carried out against Iran in recent weeks, even as President Donald Trump speaks of the possibility of a diplomatic deal.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the attack followed Trump’s statements playing down the likelihood of a resumption of hostilities with Iran after Tuesday’s midterm elections.
“We had a war with Iran. We won,” Trump told reporters on Monday. “I don't even know if you can call it a war, because we haven't had any fighting for months.”
However, US officials said Washington has been conducting smaller-scale strikes against Iran for several weeks. Reports of explosions near Qeshm Island appeared on social media on Monday.
Some officials described the attacks as defensive, aimed at preventing Iran from freely targeting commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Unlike during earlier stages of the conflict, the United States has not publicly announced these strikes.
One official said Washington was deliberately keeping the campaign secret to avoid creating the impression that it intended to resume large-scale military operations.
Qeshm is located near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. The island hosts a major underground missile complex, a naval base and a large desalination plant. The US previously struck the island during earlier phases of the conflict, and officials had discussed the possibility of seizing it.
The US Department of War referred questions to US Central Command (CENTCOM), which did not respond to a request for comment. One US official said the administration was consistently responding to threats against American forces in the region.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told reporters in Tehran on Monday that, regarding a potential agreement to end the war, “the ball is in the US court.”
“Our demands have been set out very clearly and transparently, and Iran’s demands are reasonable and logical,” he said.
Other Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, have said Iran would retaliate across the Middle East and beyond if the United States reignited the conflict.
For several weeks, Trump had said the US could return to full-scale war against Iran after the midterm elections. Senior administration officials have discussed whether to launch additional airstrikes and presented Trump with several options, including tougher economic sanctions and a blockade of Iranian trade.
Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, visited the White House last week to brief Trump on the conflict. In recent weeks, CENTCOM has laid the groundwork for larger-scale strikes, including by deploying additional missile-defense systems and munitions to the region.
The US had also warned Gulf countries to prepare for a short, intense operation shortly after the elections, the newspaper reported.
However, hours before in-person voting began, Trump softened his rhetoric.
He and Vice President JD Vance said continued negotiations aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear program could produce results. Trump also wrote on social media that oil prices were falling because “people feel” the war with Iran will not resume.
Asked by reporters on Monday whether he was considering strikes against Iran after the midterm elections, Trump replied: “No.”
Administration officials, however, said the president was still weighing all available options.
