US officials have confirmed to CBS, the BBC's US partner, that military strikes were launched against Iran's Qeshm island located in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state news agency IRNA reported several explosions on the island on Monday. According to US sources, these operations are limited in scope and serve as a defensive reaction after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired upon a US aircraft. The BBC has reached out to US Central Command for further comment regarding the incident.
The escalation occurs just before the US midterm elections, which will determine congressional control between Republicans and Democrats. President Trump is currently facing declining polling numbers and internal party pressure to conclude the conflict that began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran in February. Speaking to reporters earlier on Monday, Trump stated he was in "no rush" to increase strike intensity. He told Axios that while action would be taken eventually, the US had already crippled Iran financially, leaving the nation without money or gasoline as its population grew weary.
In a separate interview with Fox News on the eve of the elections, Trump suggested the US might target Pickaxe, a site associated with Iran's nuclear program. He dismissed the potential operation as "not a big deal" that could be executed within an hour. While speculation has mounted regarding significant new strikes after the midterms, Trump explicitly denied this possibility when questioned by a reporter on Monday.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told IRNA that very intensive talks mediated by third parties are underway to end the war. He emphasized that Tehran is prepared for both diplomatic and military scenarios more than ever before, stating it is now up to the US to choose between the wise path of negotiation or the mistake of military aggression.
Sources: BBC News World.