Trump confirms “minor strikes” on Iran’s Qeshm Island, says “it’s not a war”

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that American forces struck targets on Iran’s Qeshm Island, describing the action as “minor strikes” and insisting that “it’s not a war”, Al Jazeera reported. He made the remarks while also claiming that negotiations with Tehran have produced “a lot of progress”.

Speaking to reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said Iran had put together “a little bit of an anti-aircraft device” and that US forces took it out “in about 15 minutes, maybe five”. “We do minor strikes,” he said.

What Iran reported

Trump’s comments came shortly after Iranian media reported two missile strikes in the Suza area of Qeshm, an island in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for oil shipments. According to Reuters, relayed by Al-Monitor, the state agency IRNA cited local witnesses who said two projectiles hit the area after the sound of an aircraft was heard overhead. The semi-official Tasnim agency said early indications pointed to two missiles and that there was no official information on damage.

Al Jazeera also reported that the broadcaster IRIB carried an Iranian army statement saying air defences had intercepted and destroyed an American MQ-9 drone above the island. US Central Command described the situation as “relatively calm”, and a CENTCOM official told Al Jazeera the command was aware of the reports but had nothing further to add.

Talks and pressure

Trump said several times that his administration is in contact with Iranian representatives. “They want to make a deal,” he told reporters, adding that Washington had made progress, though he gave no details.

Qatar, which is mediating, rejected reports that the talks had collapsed. Foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said such claims serve only those who want to prolong the war and destabilise the region. Qatar’s International Media Office called the reports false and misleading, saying both sides continue to work toward an agreement. Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said at Oxford University that mediation continues to keep the situation from spiralling out of control.

Political backdrop

Al Jazeera noted that these are the first US strikes since Tuesday’s midterm elections, in which Trump’s Republican Party suffered a setback that he blamed on the Iran war. Since then the president has swung between threats and hints that a settlement is near. On Thursday he said the US might have to “destroy” the rest of Iran.

On Monday, Iranian media had reported several explosions on Qeshm while US outlets cited officials describing “defensive strikes” in the Strait of Hormuz. The New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed Pentagon officials and commanders, that thousands of US air and naval personnel on more than a dozen ships and at regional and American bases are ready to resume major combat operations if Trump gives the order.

CENTCOM also announced a reward of up to $20 million for information about Iran’s nuclear program.

What remains unclear

The extent of any damage on Qeshm has not been confirmed by Iranian authorities, and Trump offered no specifics on the state of the negotiations. Whether the talks lead to a deal or the US resumes large-scale strikes remains open.