The United States has struck Iran’s Qeshm Island, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing US officials, in the latest sign that Washington’s eight-month war with Tehran is continuing behind the scenes even as diplomats talk peace.
The island sits in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which about a fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas previously flowed, and Iranian state media outlet IRNA had reported several explosions there. Some of the US officials cited described the assaults as defensive in nature, intended to prevent Iran from having the freedom to attack commercial ships in the strait.
According to the Journal, the strike was one of a series of limited attacks carried out by Washington in recent weeks, conducted on a smaller scale and purposefully kept secret so as not to signal any intent of resuming a major military campaign against Iran.
The report has not been independently confirmed. The US Central Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and the account rests on unnamed US officials cited by the Journal, so the scale and target of the reported strike remain unverified.
The disclosure sits awkwardly alongside the diplomatic track. Tehran said on Monday that its contacts with Washington aimed at ending the war were continuing, after days of talks with Qatari mediators ended with altered proposals but no breakthrough. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei granted the government certain authorities for peace talks.
President Donald Trump raised doubts on Monday about whether he would follow through on a threatened resumption of military strikes against Iran, saying a deal with Tehran could happen. Asked by reporters whether he was considering striking Iran after Tuesday’s midterm elections, he replied “no”.
Markets reacted quickly to the report. Oil prices rose in early Asian trade on Tuesday, with Brent crude up 48 cents, or 0.5%, to $105.25 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate up 47 cents, or 0.5%, to $96.93. The rise partly reversed Monday’s sharp fall, when Brent settled $8.66, or 7.63%, lower at $104.77 after Tehran said peace contacts were continuing.
Washington and Tehran have been at war since February 28. The conflict has sharply reduced traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed up petrol prices, a pressure point for voters heading into Tuesday’s midterms.
Sources: Reuters, “US struck Iran’s Qeshm Island, Wall Street Journal reports” and Reuters, “Oil rises after report of US strike on Iran’s Qeshm Island“.
