Witnesses told Iran’s state-owned IRNA news agency they saw two aircraft flying over Qeshm Island during the incidents. The Wall Street Journal and Associated Press cited US officials who confirmed the strikes were executed to restrict Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping. One official told the Journal that Washington deliberately kept the campaign quiet to avoid signaling a return to major combat operations. Fox News and Axios reported that the attacks were a direct response to an incident earlier on Monday where Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired at a US aircraft in the strait.
The US government stated that the incident did not mark the start of expanded strikes. Earlier on Monday, the IRGC claimed it had captured two US reconnaissance drones south of Qeshm using electronic warfare systems and destroyed an MQ-9 drone east of the Strait of Hormuz. These claims were not independently verified. No immediate comment was provided by authorities in Iran regarding the US strikes. Neither Iranian news agency provided details on casualties or damage resulting from the blasts.
The strikes occur on the eve of crucial US midterm elections, where President Donald Trump’s Republican Party is seeking to maintain control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Despite the military action, Trump suggested on his Truth Social platform that a deal with Iran could happen soon, noting that oil prices were dropping. He raised doubts about further attacks in a final pitch to voters. The attacks also come amid intensifying diplomatic efforts to prevent renewed conflict. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed on Monday that Tehran and Washington were continuing to exchange messages through mediators. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi had recently visited Doha to facilitate these exchanges through Qatari mediation.
The current tension follows a period of significant military conflict. The US and Israel began attacks against Iran on February 28, with Tehran retaliating by targeting Israel and US assets in the region. A ceasefire agreement was reached in April. Subsequently, the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz on June 18, but implementation stalled due to disagreements over security in the strait. The next expected development is the official result of the US midterm elections, which will determine the balance of power in Congress for the remainder of Trump’s presidency.
