U.S. Conducts Limited Airstrikes on Iranian Air Defense System, Trump says

President Donald Trump announced that the United States military carried out a fresh round благой round of limited strikes against Iran on Friday, targeting an air‑defence system, and described the operation as minor.

Iranian state news reported that two explosions were heard in the Suza area of Qeshm Island, which sits in the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway for oil shipments that has been disrupted since the start of the U.S. war on Iran in February.

In an exchange with reporters on Friday, Trump said, “They built a small anti‑aircraft device and we knocked it out in about 15 minutes, maybe five.”

The U.S. military had previously reported carrying out what it described as “defensive” strikes on Monday, when explosions were heard on the islands of Qeshm and Hengam and in the nearby mainland area of Bandar Abbas.

Friday’s strikes are the first since Trump’s Republican party suffered a decisive repudiation in Tuesday’s midterm elections in the United States.

The electoral setback was driven in part by voter dissatisfaction with Trump’s handling of the Iran war and the resulting fuel‑price spikes – a byproduct of the conflict that has rippled through much of the global economy.

In the days since, Trump has oscillated between threatening to “destroy” Iran and suggesting that a resolution to the war is near.

Differences with Iran over its nuclear program remain the thorniest issue and one that Trump insists must be resolved as part of any deal meant to end the war.

U.S. Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, announced in a post on X late Friday that the United States is offering “a reward of up to $20 million and possible relocation for information about Iran’s nuclear program, including its facilities, equipment, and associated personnel, such as those in the scientific community, or the movement of any of the above.”

The post included a link to the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program.

Trump noted earlier Friday in an exchange with reporters that mediator discussions with Iran continue.

“We are talking to Iran. We have been,” said Trump.

A flurry of diplomatic phone calls in recent days between leaders in the Gulf and beyond has been aimed at easing tensions in the region. Concerns have mounted over the possibility that Trump could still order new strikes against Iran.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke on Friday with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, about developments, according to the Qatari government. Qatar has been mediating between the United States and Iran to end the war.

The Qatari government announced the call between the two countries’ defense officials after confirming earlier that Trump and Qatar’s emir had a separate call to discuss efforts to de‑escalate tensions.

The telephone call between Trump and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani focused on international efforts to end tensions, according to a statement from the ruler’s media office.

With the Associated Press

Source link