US hits Qeshm Island, Pezeshkian signals more diplomacy: Iran war latest
US forces have struck Iran's Qeshm Island in what officials described as defensive measures, the first attack on the island since June.
The strikes on Qeshm Island, located off Iran's southern coast in the Strait of Hormuz, followed several explosions heard late on Monday. Witnesses reported seeing two planes flying over the island, according to Iran's state-owned IRNA news agency. The US military conducted what officials called 'defensive strikes' against Iranians using surface-to-air missiles against US assets, according to an unnamed US official cited by The Associated Press.
The attack came after IRNA reported that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps had destroyed a US MQ-9 drone east of the Strait of Hormuz. This marks the first US strike on Qeshm Island since June, though the US previously targeted a critical desalination plant on the island on March 7, cutting off freshwater supplies to 30 surrounding villages.
Diplomatic efforts continue
Despite the military action, diplomatic efforts mediated by Qatar continue, though they appear fragile. Qatari mediators have been engaged in indirect talks with Iranian officials, passing messages between the two sides. Iran's delegation departed from Doha on Sunday, but a draft proposal was still being circulated, according to an official briefed on the talks.
Consultations through mediators are very intensive. We have presented our conditions and proposals, and everything depends on the political rationality of Washington.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated that the 'ball' was in the US's court as Iran's demands were 'clear and logical.' He mentioned that Iran's September plan to end the war remained the focus, which could be implemented in 'two days,' including reopening the Strait of Hormuz and returning to nuclear talks.
Mixed signals from leaders
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reported that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei had given the government 'certain authorities' over talks with the US, signaling a potential shift in diplomatic approach. Pezeshkian emphasized Tehran's commitment to resolving the conflict through dialogue, marking a change from Khamenei's previous stance following the breakdown of a June memorandum of understanding.
On the US side, Vice President JD Vance expressed hope for a diplomatic solution just hours before the strikes on Qeshm Island, stating that both he and President Trump felt 'pretty good about the prospects for potentially coming to a negotiated settlement.' However, former President Trump told Axios he was 'in no rush' to decide on resuming strikes, claiming the US had 'crippled' Iran financially.
The enemy seeks to force the Iranian nation into submission through threats and military action, but they are sorely mistaken; Iran will not submit.
Market reaction and next steps
Oil prices dropped by more than 7 percent on Monday, which Trump attributed to mediation efforts. He wrote on Truth Social that people believe the war with Iran will not resume as talks continue, telling media at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool that efforts were 'coming together very nicely.'
The US midterm elections are being viewed as a potential inflection point for Trump's decision on the next steps. The president has suggested he could attack Iran following the vote, telling the Right Side Broadcasting Network that the conflict would end 'very soon one way or the other.' Observers note that if strikes resume, the US may target Iran's nuclear facilities, particularly Pickaxe Mountain, which Trump previously mentioned as a potential target.
Related
