Trump Confirms ‘Minor’ US Strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island as He Touts Progress in Talks

President Donald Trump says the US military carried out what he called “minor” strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island on Friday, targeting an air defense site, even as he insisted Washington has made “a lot of progress” in talks with Tehran, according to The Associated Press.

Editorial illustration of an island in a narrow strait at dusk with oil tankers, a radar dish and a distant drone silhouette. — Editorial illustration, symbolic and not an actual image of the events.

The new action lands at a delicate moment. It is the first reported US strike since Tuesday’s midterm elections, and it comes as Qatar publicly pushes back on reports that US-Iran negotiations have collapsed. Here is what we know, and what remains unconfirmed.

What Trump said about the strikes

Speaking to reporters after arriving in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump described the operation as limited. “We do minor strikes,” he said, adding that Iran had “built a little bit of an anti-aircraft device, and we knocked it out in about 15 minutes, maybe five,” AP reported. He did not give further details about the target.

Iran International reported that when first asked directly whether the US was behind the reported blasts, Trump said he did not want to talk about it, before making the “minor strikes” remark. US officials have previously said most of Iran’s air defenses were destroyed or badly degraded earlier in the conflict, and that they expected Tehran to try to rebuild them, according to AP.

What Iranian media reported

Shortly before Trump spoke, Iranian state media reported two explosions in the Suza area of Qeshm Island, which sits in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important routes for oil shipments. Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB carried an army statement saying air defense forces had intercepted and destroyed an American MQ-9 drone over the island. Iran’s state-run Press TV later said two MQ-9 drones were shot down, according to Xinhua.

Those drone claims have not been independently confirmed, and US officials have not publicly addressed them. No details on damage or casualties had been reported by the outlets cited here.

CENTCOM: “relatively calm”

US Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, told Al Jazeera it was aware of the reports from Qeshm Island and described the situation as “relatively calm,” while declining further comment.

Separately, CENTCOM said in a post on X late Friday that the US is offering a reward of up to $20 million, and possible relocation, for information about Iran’s nuclear program, including facilities, equipment and associated personnel.

Talks continue, according to Washington and Doha

Trump told reporters several times on Friday that his administration is in contact with Iranian representatives. “We’re dealing with them now. They want to make a deal,” he said, adding that there had been “a lot of progress,” without elaborating.

On Saturday, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari dismissed reports that the negotiations had failed, writing on X that such claims serve “only those seeking to prolong the war and destabilise the region.” Al Jazeera also reported that Qatar’s prime minister urged both sides not to wait for a “perfect moment” to reach a deal.

The political backdrop

The strikes follow a midterm election in which Trump’s Republican Party suffered losses, results Trump has blamed on the Iran war, AP reported. Since the vote, his public messaging has alternated between threats and suggestions that a resolution is close. The Guardian noted that diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have accelerated in recent days, and that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted since the war began in February.

Why it matters

Qeshm Island sits beside the narrow shipping lane that carries a large share of the world’s seaborne oil, so even limited military activity there can ripple into energy markets and regional security. The mix of small-scale strikes and upbeat talk about negotiations leaves the next steps unclear. Key things to watch include whether Washington or Tehran confirms details of Friday’s action, whether the drone claims are verified, and whether Qatar-backed diplomacy produces a concrete framework in the coming days.