US Iran War: The United States struck Iran’s Qeshm Island on Monday, on the eve of the US midterm elections. The same day, President Donald Trump said the war was effectively over.
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Trump Says “We Won” As Strikes Hit Qeshm
Speaking in Washington, Trump said, “We had a war with Iran. We won,” and added that he doubted it could even be called a war because there had been no fighting for months. Hours later, US officials confirmed strikes on Qeshm Island, Iran’s Strait of Hormuz outpost. Asked whether he would hit Iran after the midterms, Trump answered “No.”
Washington Calls It Defensive
Officials told US media the strikes were limited and defensive. One said they responded to Iran firing at a US aircraft, with the launcher as the target. They stressed that this was not a return to major combat operations. Iranian state media reported explosions on the island, and the Revolutionary Guards claimed to have downed two US drones near it.
Why Qeshm Matters
Qeshm sits in the Strait of Hormuz, the route for about 20 million barrels of oil a day before the war. It hosts a naval installation and an underground missile facility. US forces have hit it several times this year, and Iran has answered with strikes on US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.
Diplomacy And Oil Prices Send Mixed Signals
Trump says Iran wants a deal “very badly.” Iran’s foreign ministry says the ball is in Washington’s court and that its demands are reasonable. Oil prices fell on Monday on hopes of progress. A US naval blockade of Iranian oil also continues.
