STRIKES ON THE STRAIT, BALLOTS ON THE WAY! The US has carried out strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, US officials told CBS, the BBC’s US partner, according to the BBC.
Officials described the strikes as limited and defensive, and said they were in response to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) firing on a US aircraft. Iranian state news agency Irna reported explosions on Qeshm on Monday. The IRGC did not comment on the strikes but said its forces had shot down two US MQM-170 drones south of the island and a US MQ-9 drone east of the Strait of Hormuz.
The US military has not commented. The strikes came as mediators stepped up efforts to prevent a return to all-out war after Tuesday’s US midterm elections. Earlier Monday, President Trump told Axios he was in “no rush” to ramp up strikes, saying Iran had been “crippled” financially. Asked if the US would resume significant strikes after the midterms, he said “no”.
Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tuesday “the ball is now in America’s court to prevent war.” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said “very intensive” talks were under way via Qatari and Pakistani mediators. Qatar’s Majed al-Ansari said both sides were “reviewing the ideas and proposals” and remained committed to negotiations.
Last week Iranian negotiators floated reopening Hormuz within two days if Washington met seven conditions, reportedly including lifting a naval blockade of Iranian ports and releasing frozen assets. A fifth of global oil and gas usually passes through the strait.
Featured image: AI-generated editorial illustration by Bugle Blast.
Sources: BBC News
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