US military hits Qeshm Island as Trump rejects immediate war with Iran
The strike occurred hours before the midterm vote, with officials describing it as a limited move to protect shipping lanes while diplomatic talks continue.
By Kaito Sokolov ·
American forces attacked Iran's Qeshm Island on November 2, according to US officials who confirmed the operation. The strike took place just hours before the November 3 midterm elections. President Donald Trump publicly softened his stance on renewed large scale fighting that same day. When asked if he was considering strikes after the vote, Trump answered no. He suggested diplomacy could yield results, though administration officials told The Wall Street Journal that military options remained under consideration.
Qeshm Island sits at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy shipments. The island hosts an underground missile installation, a naval base, and a major desalination facility. US officials described the recent operations as defensive efforts to reduce Iran's ability to threaten commercial vessels. They intentionally avoided publicizing the attacks to prevent them from being interpreted as preparations for major combat. Iranian state news agency IRNA reported explosions on the island on November 2.
Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, told RFE/RL that the strikes sought to weaken Iran's capacity to interfere with shipping. He noted that the attacks did not necessarily aim to change Iran's political decisions. Other recent US operations targeted missile launch locations, a dhow, and a commercial ship that attempted to breach the American blockade of Iranian trade.
Diplomatic exchanges have continued alongside the military activity. Trump and Vice President JD Vance have suggested that talks on dismantling Iran's nuclear program could lead to an agreement. Vance reported progress in those talks. Trump linked declining oil prices to expectations that war would not resume. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on November 2 that the next move rested with Washington. He described Tehran's demands as clear and reasonable.
Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, have warned of retaliation if Washington restarts the conflict. Senior US administration officials have considered additional air strikes, stronger economic sanctions, and an expanded trade blockade. Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper briefed Trump at the White House last week. Additional missile defenses and munitions have reached the region in recent weeks.
Brett Erickson, a Middle East analyst at Obsidian Risk Advisors, told RFE/RL that the latest strikes carried escalation risks but followed the pattern of recent limited engagements. He said Iran's restrained responses gave him little reason to expect this attack to alter Tehran's calculations. Gregory Brew, an oil expert at Eurasia Group, told RFE/RL that the attacks indicated Washington was challenging Iranian control around the strait. He said US reluctance to publicize the operations suggested caution about escalation.
