The Media Line: US Strikes Qeshm Island in Retaliation, Says Action Not Start of Broader Iran Campaign  

US Strikes Qeshm Island in Retaliation, Says Action Not Start of Broader Iran Campaign  

By The Media Line Staff  

The US military carried out limited strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island on Monday after Iranian fire targeted American aircraft, US officials said, describing the operation as a defensive action intended to protect US assets in the region.  

Three US officials confirmed the strikes to CNN. A US official separately told Fox News that the operation did not signal the resumption of a broader American campaign against Iran.  

“The strike was ‘defensive’ in response to Iran firing first. This is not a return to strikes on Iran or the beginning of an escalation,” he said.  

IRNA reported Monday night that five explosions were heard in succession on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Residents also reported seeing two aircraft flying over the island, according to the Iranian news agency’s correspondent in Qeshm.  

The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the US operation, said similar strikes had previously been conducted secretly.  

The military action came as diplomatic contacts involving Washington and Tehran continued. Qatari mediators arriving in Tehran Tuesday night will meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss a possible US-Iran agreement, Reuters reported. Their agenda includes a version of a draft agreement discussed by the parties over the past eight days.  

Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported Friday that an American delegation was expected to join Iranian officials in Doha after preliminary negotiations reportedly made progress. The planned visit followed more than 12 hours of talks last week between Iranian officials and a Qatari delegation led by a senior adviser to Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheik Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.  

US Vice President JD Vance said, ‘We have made some progress, we’ll see if we can make more.’ He added that ‘no deadline has been set’ for resuming strikes on Iran.  

The Atlantic reported that President Trump is considering renewed strikes after Tuesday’s congressional midterm elections to pressure Tehran to negotiate. President Trump was presented last week with options for attacks lasting hours, days, or weeks and potentially targeting Iranian infrastructure and nuclear facilities.  

However, he spoke of a possible deal in a Truth Social post on Monday: “Oil Prices are DROPPING LIKE A ROCK, down almost $10 a Barrel, A RECORD, because people feel that there will not be a War with Iran. Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible. It could happen!”  

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