In brief
Trump confirmed minor U.S. strikes against Iranian air defence on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz and asserted Washington has made significant progress with Tehran. The president said the actions were defensive and part of ongoing diplomatic efforts. The Pentagon’s CENTCOM reported the situation was calm, while Iranian media claimed a U.S. drone was destroyed. The U.S. offered a $20 million reward for information on Iran’s nuclear program.
On Friday, President Donald Trump confirmed that U.S. forces had carried out a new round of minor strikes against Iranian air‑defence systems on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump told reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida that the strikes were defensive and part of a broader diplomatic effort.
"We do minor strikes," Trump said. "They knocked out – they built a little bit of an anti‑aircraft device, and we knocked it out in about 15 minutes, maybe five."
He went on to say the United States has made “a lot of progress” in talks with Tehran, although he provided no details on the negotiations. Those remarks were made the same day that Iranian state media reported two missile strikes in the Suza area of Qeshm Island, a key route for oil shipments.
The Iranian national broadcaster (IRIB) also reported that the Iranian army had intercepted and destroyed an American MQ‑9 drone over Qeshm Island. While the claim was made by Iranian officials, it has not been independently corroborated.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East, said the situation was “relatively calm.” A CENTCOM official told Al Jazeera that it was aware of the reports but offered no further comment. Later that night the command announced on X that it was offering a reward of up to $20 million for information on Iran’s nuclear program, including details of facilities and associated personnel.
In the days after Trump’s statement, Iranian media reported several explosions on Qeshm Island, and American outlets noted the U.S. had carried out defensive strikes. On Saturday, Qatar dismissed reports that U.S.–Iran negotiations had failed, emphasizing that such claims were unsubstantiated.
As the diplomatic back‑and‑forth continues, the U.S. maintains that the recent strikes were an act of deterrence and a show of resolve amid growing tensions in the region.
