President Donald Trump said Friday, Nov. 6, that U.S. forces had struck an Iranian air-defense site on Qeshm Island, while Qatar said it was still trying to keep negotiations between Washington and Tehran going.
Iranian state media reported two missile strikes in the Suza area of the island but gave no details about damage or the targets. Trump described the operation as minor. He said the newly built weapon for shooting down aircraft was quickly disabled.
The reports included no independent assessment of the damage. Iranian state television said the army reported that Iranian air defenses had destroyed a U.S. MQ-9 drone over Qeshm. Washington had not confirmed that claim.
Qeshm Island is near the Strait of Hormuz, an important route for oil shipments. Explosions were also reported on the island earlier in the week. Trump said negotiations had made “a lot of progress.”
He did not explain what had changed. Qatar rejected reports that its mediation had collapsed. Two regional officials said Iran was reviewing Qatari proposals to address disagreements with Washington over Tehran’s nuclear program.
One official said Iran was not ready for direct talks unless concessions were made first. The competing claims and continued mediation leave the prospects for a settlement uncertain.