U.S. strikes Iranian islands

Washington (AFP) — The United States launched limited strikes on an Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, US media reported, hours after President Donald Trump signaled diplomatic progress with Tehran.

The strikes, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, hit Qeshm Island, where Iranian state media reported five explosions in rapid succession.

Unnamed US officials cited by the Journal and other outlets described the attacks as defensive in nature, while the paper said it was just the latest of several undeclared strikes.

It said they had not been publicly announced to avoid the impression Washington intended to resume major combat operations. US Central Command did not immediately respond to an Agence France-Presse request for comment.

The US, alongside Israel, launched the war with a massive wave of surprise strikes on Iran in late February, but it has not achieved its war aims and the conflict has been stalemated for months.

On Monday, a day before voters were predicted to hand his Republican party a drubbing in midterm elections in part over dissatisfaction with the war and the inflation it has brought, Trump said a deal with Iran “could happen.”

“Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible,” Trump posted on his Truth Social Platform.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, said indirect talks were taking place.

“Given the sensitivity and gravity of the current situation, consultations and deliberations are very intensive,” Araghchi told state media.