Trump confirms new US strikes on Iran's Qeshm island
Written by AI from aljazeera.com's report. Not checked by a person.
Donald Trump confirmed minor US strikes on Iranian air defences on Qeshm island and said "a lot of progress" had been made in talks with Tehran. Iran said it downed a US MQ-9 drone, while CENTCOM described the situation as "relatively calm".
US President Donald Trump has confirmed American military strikes on Iran's Qeshm island, which lies in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for oil shipments. Speaking to reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday, he described them as minor strikes against Iranian air defence systems. He said Iran had built "a little bit of an anti-aircraft device" and that US forces knocked it out in about 15 minutes, "maybe five".
Trump spoke shortly after Iranian state media reported two missile strikes in the Suza area of Qeshm. The broadcaster IRIB also cited an Iranian army statement saying air defence forces had intercepted and destroyed an American MQ-9 drone over the island. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the situation was "relatively calm", and an official told Al Jazeera there was no further comment.
Trump said his administration was talking with Tehran, stating "They want to make a deal" and "We've made a lot of progress with Iran", but he gave no details. On Saturday, Qatar dismissed reports that the negotiations had failed, saying such claims serve only those seeking to prolong the war. Qatar's prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, said at Oxford University on Friday that mediation efforts remain active to prevent a major regional escalation.
Friday's strikes were the first since Republicans suffered a blow in Tuesday's US midterm elections, which Trump blamed on the Iran war. Since then he has alternated between threats and hints that a resolution is near.
