Washingtin DC: The United States carried out limited military strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island on Monday, with US officials describing the operation as a defensive measure aimed at protecting American assets in the region, according to multiple media reports.
Three US officials told CNN that the strikes were launched after Iran fired at a US aircraft. Another official said the action was intended to counter Iranian surface-to-air missile threats against American assets.
The operation, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, was not considered a major combat offensive. The newspaper also reported that similar strikes had previously been conducted covertly.
A person familiar with the matter said the Trump administration deliberately kept the latest operation under wraps to avoid exaggerating what it described as a defensive military action.
However, the strikes underscore the continuing volatility in the region, with the possibility of renewed military confrontation remaining despite diplomatic efforts to reach an understanding between Washington and Tehran.
Meanwhile, reports of multiple explosions emerged from southern Iran. According to Al Jazeera, citing Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, five blasts were heard on Qeshm Island, while additional explosions were reported in the nearby coastal town of Bandar Lengeh.
Residents also reportedly spotted two aircraft flying over Qeshm Island. There was no immediate official confirmation of the cause of the explosions or any casualties.
The developments came after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that its air defence forces had brought down three US drones near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state broadcaster Press TV reported that the IRGC said two MQM-170 reconnaissance drones were intercepted south of Qeshm Island using electronic warfare systems. Tehran claimed the latest interceptions brought the number of captured drones of this type to four.
In a separate statement, the IRGC said its Aerospace Force had tracked and destroyed a US MQ-9 drone east of the Strait of Hormuz using a newly developed air defence system operating under Iran’s integrated air defence network.
The military developments unfolded against the backdrop of renewed diplomatic signals from both sides.
US President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that a negotiated settlement with Iran remained possible, claiming that oil prices had fallen sharply amid expectations of an agreement.
In a post on X, Trump said oil prices had dropped by nearly $10 per barrel, adding that Tehran wanted a settlement and that an agreement “could happen.”
Speaking to Fox News in an interview that aired Monday night, Trump defended his decision to launch military action against Iran but downplayed the prospect of an ongoing war.
“We’re not fighting a war. Everyone says ‘you’re at war!’ Well, when was the last time we fired anything?” Trump said, describing the situation as a “very soft war.”
He warned, however, that renewed fighting remained possible if Iran failed to reach an agreement, while expressing confidence that Tehran was keen to strike a deal.
Vice President JD Vance also struck an optimistic note, saying Washington and Tehran had made progress toward finding a way out of the conflict.
Vance said Trump retained both military and nonmilitary options but added that the administration was encouraged by the latest diplomatic developments. He also disclosed that he had spoken with the president about the situation and that both were feeling positive about the prospects of an agreement.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, maintained that Tehran remained prepared for both diplomacy and military confrontation, warning that any fresh military action would trigger a stronger response.
Qeshm Island holds considerable strategic significance for Iran because of its proximity to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime energy corridors. Located around 14 miles from the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, the island plays a key role in Tehran’s ability to exert control over shipping through the narrow waterway.
Before the war, approximately 20 million barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz every day, making any escalation in the surrounding waters a major concern for global energy markets.
The latest strikes and competing military claims highlight the fragile situation in the region, even as Washington and Tehran continue to signal an interest in a diplomatic settlement.
