According to reports by The Wall Street Journal, the United States military carried out strikes on the Iranian island of Qeshm, located in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, on Monday, November 2. This operation took place despite earlier expressions of optimism from President Donald Trump concerning ongoing negotiations with Tehran. American officials speaking anonymously to the publication described the event as part of a series of limited strikes conducted by Washington against Iran over recent weeks.
One of these officials indicated that the US military is making efforts to keep these operations secret. The stated goal is to avoid signaling that the United States is preparing for large-scale military operations. Prior to the official reports, the Iranian state news agency IRNA reported hearing five explosions on Qeshm island and noted that residents had spotted two aircraft in the sky.
The timing of the strike coincides with the eve of the US midterm elections. Despite the military action, Vice President JD Vance stated on Monday that both he and President Trump felt "rather optimistic" about reaching a negotiated agreement to end the war with Iran, though no timeline was provided. Later that evening, during an appearance on Fox News, President Trump asserted that Tehran is absolutely determined to conclude a deal.
The conflict began in late February following Israeli-American strikes on Iran, after which Tehran blocked the Strait of Hormuz and regularly targeted ships attempting to pass without authorization. On Sunday, the UK Maritime Trade Organization (UKMTO) reported that a ship was hit by an unknown projectile at the mouth of the strait. While a military lull has been observed since September, threats from both the US and Israel have intensified in recent days amidst difficult midterm elections for Trump and post-election uncertainties in Israel.
Earlier this weekend, President Trump stated he was prepared to deliver a "blow" to Iran and mentioned that one or two Iranian nuclear sites remained to be addressed. However, oil prices fell sharply on Monday as markets reacted to the perception that a full-scale war might be avoided. On his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that prices were dropping because people sense there will not be a war, noting that Iran wants an agreement quickly and that it could happen.
Tehran has expressed willingness to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days, shortening its initial seven-day plan, though it maintains strict conditions that President Trump rejected in September. Diplomatic exchanges mediated by Qatar have intensified to prevent a repeat of the intense forty-day bombardment seen earlier this summer and to restart negotiations in a conflict that continues to shake the global economy.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghtchi described current consultations as "very intense" given the sensitivity and gravity of the situation, highlighting the active mediating role of Qatar and Pakistan. In an apparent move to facilitate discussions, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has reportedly conferred certain powers to the government, according to President Massoud Pezeshkian.
Sources: Le Monde International.