The United States carried out limited strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island on Monday, November 2, and said the action was defensive as Washington and Tehran pursued a possible deal over the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. officials told NBC News that the strikes targeted a launcher after Iran tried to fire at a U.S. aircraft. The officials said the operation was not a return to major combat. They also described repeated Iranian threats to U.S. aircraft and shipping in the area.
Those accounts were not independently confirmed in the reports. Iranian state media reported hearing five explosions on Qeshm, a strategic island near the strait. The strikes took place as efforts continued to ease the standoff.
Iran said it could reopen the waterway within two days if Washington met its conditions. Those conditions included measures tied to the U.S. blockade. There was no confirmation of an agreement.
Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism about reaching a negotiated settlement. The strike showed how quickly military action could complicate the talks.