US Struck Iran's Qeshm Island in Unannounced Strikes

The United States struck Iran's Qeshm Island on Monday, American officials told The Wall Street Journal. It was the latest in a string of limited strikes that Washington has carried out over recent weeks without announcing them.

Qeshm lies on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's state news agency IRNA reported several explosions on the island earlier on Monday. The Fars news agency said the blasts had occurred for "unknown reasons." Iranian news agencies also reported explosions in the port city of Bandar Lengeh, which is near the strait, and said air defense systems had been activated.

One official told the Journal that the operations were kept quiet on purpose. The aim was to avoid any sign that Washington was preparing to restart a full-scale offensive against Iran.

The report surfaced hours after Trump played down the prospect of renewed large-scale fighting once Tuesday's midterm elections are over. Reporters asked whether he was considering striking Iran after the vote, and he answered "no."

"We had a war with Iran. We won," Trump told reporters. "I don't know if you even call it a war because we haven't been doing any fighting for months."

Trump also suggested that an agreement could reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end Iran's nuclear program. He pointed to falling oil prices as a sign that markets expect a diplomatic breakthrough. "Oil Prices are DROPPING LIKE A ROCK, down almost $10 a Barrel, A RECORD, because people feel that there will not be a War with Iran. Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible. It could happen!" he wrote on Truth Social.

Vice President JD Vance also sounded upbeat about the negotiations on Monday. Speaking at Joint Base Andrews, he said any agreement would have to stop Tehran from rebuilding its nuclear capabilities. "We've had a number of good conversations with the Iranians," Vance said.

"I actually spoke with the Presidentabout this an hour ago. The President and I both feel pretty good about the prospects for potentially coming to a negotiated settlement. We're going to keep on working at it. You never know, of course. The Iranians are always a little unpredictable, and as the President always says, he retains kinetic options, he retains non-kinetic options. We've certainly made some progress. We'll see if we can make some more."

Vance was asked whether Washington had given Iran a deadline before further military action. He said no ultimatum had been issued. "No, we haven't set deadlines. I mean, look, we've said, 'Here's what we want.' And what we want is, having destroyed their nuclear program, we want to make sure they don't rebuild it or try to rebuild it. That's what matters most to the United States."