In brief
On Friday, President Donald Trump confirmed that U.S. forces carried out minor strikes against Iranian air‑defence systems on Qeshm Island, asserting Washington had made substantial progress in negotiations with Tehran. The strikes were described as defensive amid diplomatic talks, while U.S. Central Command reported the situation was calm and offered rewards for information on Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s state broadcaster reported interceptions, and Qatar dismissed claims that negotiations had failed.
On Friday, President Donald Trump confirmed that U.S. forces carried out minor strikes against Iranian air‑defence systems on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, saying Washington has made substantial progress in talks with Tehran.
Trump told reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, that the strikes were defensive: “We do minor strikes,” he said. He added that the U.S. knocked out an anti‑aircraft device in about fifteen minutes.
In the same interview, Trump reiterated that his administration was engaging with Iranian representatives, saying, “We’ve made a lot of progress with Iran.” He offered no further details on the negotiations.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) released a statement saying the situation “is relatively calm.” A CENTCOM spokesperson confirmed they were aware of reports of explosions on the island but declined to elaborate. CENTCOM also tweeted a reward of up to $20 million and possible relocation for information on Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported that Iranian forces had intercepted and destroyed a U.S. MQ‑9 drone over Qeshm Island. The broadcaster also claimed that two missile strikes had been launched from the Suza area of the island, though this detail remains unverified by independent sources.
On Monday, Iranian media continued to report explosions on Qeshm Island following U.S. claims of defensive strikes. On Saturday, Qatar’s foreign ministry dismissed widespread rumors that U.S.–Iran negotiations had collapsed, stating such reports “benefit the opposition.”
According to a recent CBS News report, Trump indicated that he will soon decide whether to order additional strikes on Iran, citing the involvement of the Qatari emir as a mediator in a potential peace deal.
