The United States has carried out strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a US official said on Monday, as tensions between the two countries continue alongside diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
The strikes, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, appeared to be limited in scope and did not signal a return to major combat operations, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Another US official described the attacks as defensive measures targeting Iranian positions from which surface-to-air missiles had allegedly been used against American assets.
The Pentagon referred requests for comment to US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American military operations in the Middle East. CENTCOM did not immediately respond.
Explosions Reported on Qeshm Island
Iranian state news agency IRNA reported several explosions on Qeshm Island earlier on Monday, with five blasts reported in the area.
The semi-official Fars news agency separately said explosions were heard coming from the direction of the sea near Bandar Lengeh in Hormozgan province.
The cause of the explosions was not immediately clear. Iranian media reports did not provide details about casualties or damage.
According to Fox News, citing officials, the US strikes were defensive and followed Iranian fire directed at an American aircraft.
The latest developments come amid continuing diplomatic efforts between Tehran and Washington to ease tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the two countries were continuing to exchange messages through mediators. He confirmed that Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi had travelled to Doha to facilitate communication through Qatari mediation.
Iran Claims Two More US Drones Downed
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that it had brought down two US drones south of Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, the IRGC Aerospace Force used electronic warfare systems to intercept the two MQM-170 drones and prevent them from completing their missions.
The report said the latest operation brought the number of drones of this type reportedly captured by Iranian forces to four. However, it did not provide further operational details, and the Iranian claim had not been independently verified.
The announcement follows two similar reports last week.
On Friday, IRNA reported that the IRGC Aerospace Force had downed an MQM-170 drone over Qeshm Island using electronic warfare systems.
A day earlier, the IRGC Navy claimed it had seized control of another drone in the western Strait of Hormuz and landed it intact. The US military rejected Iran’s account of that incident.
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Vance Says Negotiations Have Made Progress
Despite the latest military developments, US Vice President JD Vance said Washington and Tehran had made progress towards a possible negotiated settlement.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Vance said he had spoken with President Donald Trump about the situation and that both believed there were prospects for reaching an agreement.
“I actually just spoke with the president of the United States about an hour ago about this,” Vance said.
He added that the administration felt positive about the possibility of a diplomatic breakthrough but acknowledged that Iran’s position remained unpredictable.
“The Iranians are always a little unpredictable, and as the president always says, he retains kinetic options. He retains non-kinetic options, but we’ve certainly made some progress. We’ll see if we can make some more,” he said.
Asked whether Washington had given Tehran a deadline before military strikes could resume, Vance replied that no deadline had been set.
Nuclear Programme Remains Key US Demand
Vance said the United States wanted a firm and verifiable commitment from Iran that it would not rebuild its nuclear programme.
“Having destroyed their nuclear program, we want to make sure they don’t rebuild it or try to rebuild it. That’s what matters most to the United States,” he said.
He added that Washington believed a diplomatic solution remained possible but stressed that any agreement would need to include verifiable guarantees.
Vance’s remarks came hours after Trump said Iran wanted to reach an agreement to end the conflict, which he described as being in its ninth month.
Speaking at the reopening of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, Trump said Tehran was interested in a deal and suggested that an agreement could be reached.
“They want to make a deal, and that could happen,” Trump said.
He also claimed that Iran had asked Washington to stop targeting its leaders, adding that the United States would comply.
The contrasting developments highlight the uncertainty surrounding the situation: military activity continues around the Strait of Hormuz, while both sides maintain indirect diplomatic contacts in search of a possible settlement.
