US Carries Out Defensive Strikes Near Strait Of Hormuz As Iran Vows Crushing Response

Qeshm Strikes, Iran Vows

The United States launched new attacks on various areas in southern Iran, and Trump said on Truth Social that "The United States is striking and we are talking about striking Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz." The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces and the headquarters of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central vowed to direct "crushing and devastating blows to the cowardly and evil American enemy, in response to the American air aggression on points in Sistan and Baluchestan and Hormozgan." Iran’s forces threatened a "crushing and devastating" response, while the spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Mabhi, warned the United States that it "will regret its new attacks."

Trump cites Hormuz targets1 of 6 outlets reported it · not in Apa.az and 4 more▾

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced it had carried out "defensive attacks" on multiple sites near the Hormuz Strait in Iran, and Iranian media said the attacks affected the Kanarak region and an island, as well as parts of Bandar Abbas, Sirik, and the Jiroft airport in southern Kerman Province. The same Iranian accounts said "part of the explosions heard in the area resulted from clashes between the Iranian Islamic Republic’s military forces and hostile targets within the Hormozgan Strait," while details about the targets attacked and the extent of potential damage remained unclear.

Reporting for this section26 September

Drones Downed, Diplomacy Continues

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it downed two US drones south of Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, and Tasnim said the IRGC Aerospace Force used electronic warfare systems against the two MQM-170 drones. The IRGC Aerospace Force said the operation prevented the drones from completing their missions, and it reported that the number of aircraft of that type reportedly captured by Iranian forces had reached four. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the two countries were continuing to exchange messages through mediators, and he confirmed that Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi had visited Doha to facilitate the exchanges through Qatari mediation.

IRGC claims two MQM-170s5 of 9 outlets reported it · not in 26 September and 3 more▾

The US military rejected Iran’s account of Thursday’s incident, and the latest report came amid ongoing indirect diplomatic contacts between Tehran and Washington. Iran’s claims also extended to a separate drone loss, with the IRGC announcing that another US MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle had been shot down east of the Strait of Hormuz.

Reporting for this sectionAnadolu Ajansı

Explosions, Negotiations, Stakes

Multiple explosions were heard on Iran’s Qeshm Island and in Bandar Lengeh near the Strait of Hormuz in the early hours of Tuesday, and Iran’s IRNA news agency said five explosions were heard on Qeshm Island.

Residents of Qeshm Island claimed they had spotted two aircraft flying over the island, while the IRGC Aerospace Force said it had shot down three US drones near the Strait of Hormuz, including the 55th MQ-9 military drone.

Trump posted on Truth Social that "Oil Prices are DROPPING LIKE A ROCK, down almost $10 a Barrel, A RECORD," and he wrote that "Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible. It could happen!"

J.D. Vance told Fox News in Minnesota, "The President and I both feel pretty good about the prospects for potentially coming to a negotiated settlement," and he said the administration was working to make more progress.

Vance says talks look good4 of 8 outlets reported it · not in 26 September and 3 more▾

The Week described the developments as coming amid US threats of fresh strikes, while it said there had been no official information on the cause of the explosions or any casualties.

Reporting for this sectionThe Week